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FRENCH CHILDKEN AT HOME. 



AN INTRODUCTION TO 



COMMENT ON PARLE A PARIS; 



OE, 



FKENCH AS SPOKEN IN PARIS, 



BY ^' 

MADAME DE PEYRAC, 

AUTHOR OF 
"COMMENT ON PAELE A PAEIS." 



/Jl" 






NEW YORK: 

D. APPLETON & COMPANY, 

549 & 551 BROADWAY. 

1876. 






Enteeed, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1875, 

By D. APPLETOI^ & CO., 

In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at "Washington. 



PEEFAOE. 



The work we now offer our young students will, 
we trust, be both useful and amusing. Our object 
is to introduce them into the home-circles of their 
little French friends across the great ocean. 

No doubt they have already studied their lan- 
guage ; but they probably found it dry and difficult 
to understand, for,, through the mist of unattained 
knowledge, they could not discover its many beau- 
ties, and perhaps have felt too much discouraged to 
persevere. 

"With the aid of this small volume, the task will 
be easier ; they will find themselves at once in pleas- 
ant and congenial society, and will soon learn, not 
only to speak, but to think, in that beautiful idiom, 
without which no modern education can be com- 
plete. 

The Marcel system, which is now thoroughly ap- 
preciated, has been followed through these pages, 
which we have endeavored to render still more at- 
tractive by introducing the characters of " Comment 
on parle a Paris " in their childhood. 



CONVERSATIONS FACILES ET AMUSANTES 
POUR DE JEUNES ELEVES. 



PERSONNAGES. 

Mme. Daeville. 

Chaeles son fils, age de douze ans. 

Maeie. sa fille, agee de dix ans. 

Lauee de Paenes sa niece, agee de douze ans. 

Mlle. Dutoue gouvernante de Laure. 

Geoege Dalbeet ami de Charles. 

Eose , bonne de Marie. 

Jacques jardinier. 

Un Domestique. 

Annette petite paysanne. 

Un Mendiant. 



La seine se passe au Chateau de Vosgerolles. 



EASY AND AMUSING CONVERSATIONS FOR 
YOUNG STUDENTS. 



CHARACTERS. 

Mes. Daeville. 

Chaeles her son, twelve years old. 

Maey her daughter, ten years old. 

Lauea de Paexes her niece, twelve years old. 

Miss Dutoue Laura's governess. 

Geoeoe Dalbeet Charles's friend. 

Rosa Mary's nurse. 

Jack a gardener.- 

A Waitee. 

Annette a young peasant-girl. 

A Beggae. 



The scene lies at the Chateau de Vosgerolles, 



LES PETITS FEANCAIS CHEZ EUX. 



OHAPITRE I. 

LE MATIN. 

La Chambre a coucher de Marie. 



Maeie. — Rose. 



KosE {puvraiit les volets), 
II est sept heures, mademoiselle. Youlez-vons 
vous lever ? 

Maeie Q)aillant). 
Deja sept heures, ma bonne Rose ? II me sem- 
ble que je viens de me couclier. 

Rose {souriant). 
Yons avez dormi dix hem-es; c'est bien assez. 
Yoici vos bas et yos souliers. 

Marie {se levant), 
Allons, puisqn'il le f aut absolument ! 



FEENCH CHILPEEN AT HOME. 



CHAPTEE I. 

THE MOENmG. 

Mari/s Bedroom, 



Maey. — Rose. 



Rose {opening the shutters). 
It is seyen o'clock, miss. Will you get up ? 

Mary {yawning). 
Seven o'clock already, Eose ? I feel as though 
I had just gone to bed. 

Rose {smiling). 
Tou slept ten hours; that is quite sufficient. 
Here are your shoes and stockings. 

Mary {getting up). 
"Well, if it must be done. 



8 LES PETITS FEANQAIS CHEZ EUX. 

EOSE. 

Quelle robe mettrez-vons ? 

Maiiie. 
Cela m'est egal ; celle que tu vondras. As-tu mis 
de I'eau dans la cuvette ? 

Rose. 
Tout est pret. Yoici votre brosse a dent et yos 
serviettes, sur le lavabo. En attendant je vais pre- 
parer les jupons et la robe de mademoiselle. 

Mauie. 
Oui, je ne te ferai pas attendre longtemps. Tu 
sais que maman n'aime pas que je lambine en m'ba- 
billant. 

Rose. 
C'est, en effet, une vilaine habitude. Youlez- 
vous que je vous coiffe ? 

Mahie. 
Non, merci. Je deviens tres-adroite et veux etre 
tout-a-fait independante de toi, ma Rose. II y a as- 
sez longtemps que je te donne de la peine. 

Rose. 
IT' en parlez pas, mon enfant ; je suis trop heu- 
reuse de vous servir. Si vous etiez vaine et liau- 
taine comme votre cousine Mademoiselle Laure, ce 
serait bien different. 



FRENCH CHILD BEN AT HOME, 9 

Rose. 
"What dress will you put on ? 

Maby. 

I do not care ; whichever you choose. Have you 
poured water into the basin ? 

KosE. 
Every thing is ready. There are your tooth-brush 
and towels on the wash-stand. Meanwhile, I will 
prepare your under-skirts and dress. 

Majky. 

Yes, I will not keep you long waiting. Tou 
know mamma does not like me to be dilatory when 
I am dressing. 

Rose. 

It is certainly a bad habit. Shall I dress your 
hair ? 

. MAIiY. 

No, thank you. I am becoming very handy, and 
wish to be thoroughly independent of you, my dear 
Rose. I have given you trouble long enough. 

Rose. 
Do not mention it, my child ; I am too happy to 
wait upon you. If you were conceited and haughty, 
like your cousin. Miss Laura, it would be another 
matter. 



10 LES PETITS FEANQAIS CHEZ EUX. 

Maeie. 

Ah ! a propos de ma cousine Laure — n'est-ce 
pas aujourd'hui qu'elle arrive de Paris ? 

EosE. 

Mais oiii, justement ; madame m'a dit, hier an 
soir, qu'elle attendait Mademoiselle de Fames et sa 
gouyernante. 

Maeie. 

Je serai bien-aise de voir Laure et de faire des 
promenades dans le pare avec elle; mais, qnant a 
Mademoiselle Dntonr, je t'ayoue qne j'ai un pen 
penr d'elle. 

EosE. 

Qnelle idee ! 

Marie. 

• C'est absnrde, j'en conyiens ; mais, malgre moi, 
je ne me sens pas a I'aise ayec Mademoiselle Dn- 
tour. Je yais faire ma priere et je serai tonte prete 
(die s'agenouille pendant quelques instants). Charles 
est-il leye ? 

EosE. 

Oh! il y a longtemps. Monsienr Charles etait 
an jardin, trayaillant ayec Jacqnes, ayant sept henres. 
Tenez^ le yoici jnstement. 



FRENCH CHILDREN AT HOME, H 

Mary. 

Oh ! — talking of my cousin Laura — is it not to- 
day that she is to arrive from Paris ? 

Rose. 

Why, yes ; madame mentioned to me, last even- 
ing, that she expected Mademoiselle de Parnes and 
her governess, 

Maey. 

I shall be very glad to see Laura and take walks 
through the park with her ; but, as regards Miss Du- 
tour, I must acknowledge that I rather stand in awe 
of her. 

EosE. 
What a notion ! 

Mary. 

I admit that it is absurd ; but, notwithstanding, 
I do not feel at ease with Miss Dutour. I am going 
to say my prayers, and then I will be ready {she 
Tcneelsfor a few moments). Is Charles up ? 

Rose. 

Oh ! he has been up a long time. Master Charles 
was in the garden, working with Jack, before seven 
o'clock. There he is. 



12 



LES PETITS FRANQAIS CHEZ EUX. 
Marie. — Rose. — Charles. 



Charles. 
Oui^ me Yoila. Je suis plus matinal que toi, 
Marie ; j'ai deja ratisse deux plates-bandes — aussi, 
j'ai une faim de loup. Et toi, petite scBur, com- 
ment es-tu ? 

Mai^ie. 
Encore un pen endormie. As-tu deja yu ma- 
mam? 

Chjlrles. 
oil ! oui ; et je Pai bien embrassee, cette chere 
mere ! EUe nous attend dans la salle a manger pour 
prendre le cafe. 

Marie. 
Allons la trouver. Eose, n'oublie pas mon serin ; 
mets sa cage an soleil. Entends-tu ? 



Rose. 
Oui, oui ; je vais m'occuper de ce cbarmant chan- 



teur. 



FEENCH CEILBEEN AT ROME, 13 

Maky. — Rose. — Charles. 



Charles. 
Yes, here I am. I am an earlier riser than yon, 
Mary ; I have already raked two flower-beds, and I 
am as hnngry as a wolf. And how are yon, little 
sister ? 

Mary. 
Eather sleepy, yet. Have yon seen mamma ? 

Charles. 
Oh ! yes ; and given her a good kiss, dear mother ! 
She is waiting, in the dining-room, to take coffee 
with us. 

Mary. 
Let ns go to her. — Rose, don't forget my canary ; 
hang its cage in the snn. Do yon hear ? 

EosE. 
Tes ; I will attend to that charming songster. 



CHAPITEE II. 
La Salle a manger. 



Madame Darville. — Marie. — Charles. 



Marie {allant evihrasser Mme. Daryille). 
Bonjour, mere cherie ; comment te portes-tu I 
Comment as-tu dormi ? 

Mme. Daeyille. 
A merYeille, chere enfant ; et toi ? 

Marie. 
Oh ! je dors toujom^s bien. 

Charles {sourianf). 
Yoila ce que c'est que d'aYoir une bonne eon- 
science. 

Marie. 

Aliens, ne commence pas tes taquineries aYant 
le dejeuner. 

Mme. Daryille {se mettant a tahle), 
Yenez, mes enfants. {Au domestique.) Pierre, 
serYez du lait cbaud a Mademoiselle Marie. 



CHAPTEE II. 

The Dining^oom. 



Mrs. Da^yille.-— Mary. — Charles. 



Maey (kissing M^s. Darville). 
Good-morning, dear mother! How are you? 
How did you sleep ? 

Mes. Daeyille. 
Very well, dear child ; and you ? 

Maky. 

Oh ! I always sleep well. 

Charles (smiling). 
So much for having a clear conscience. 

Mary. 

Come, do not begin to tease me before break- 
fast. 

Mrs. Daryille (sitting down to the table). 
Come, my children. (To the waiter.) Peter, help 
Miss Mary to some hot milk. 



16 LES PETIT8 FEANgAIS CHEZ EUX. 

Marie. 

Me permets-tu de prendre dii cafe, ce matin, 
manian ? 

Mme. Daeyille. 
Le lait pur vaut mienx ponr toi, ma fiUe; ce- 
pendant, de temps en temps, tu peux te permettre 
ce petit extra. 

Charles. 
Moi, qui suis un homme — 

Marie (pinterrompant). 
De douze ans — tu peux prendre du cafe. 

Le Domestique. 
Madame prendra-t-elle du beurre ? 

Mme. Daryelle. 

Merci ; le pain sec est suffisant. Quand on de- 
jeune a onze heures, un leger repas le matin con- 
Yient mieux a Testomac. II me semble, Charles, que 
tu en fais un bien solide. 

Charles. 
Sois tranquille ; il ne nuira pas a celui de onze 
heures ; j'ai toujours faim, c'est une specialite. — Et 
toi, Marie, tu ne dis rien, mais tu n'en manges pas 
moins. 

Marie. 

Par exemple ! je n'ai pris qu'une petite tasse de 
cafe et une tartine beurree. 



FEEFCH CHILD BEN AT HOME. ]Y 

Mary. 
Will you allow me to take coffee, tliis morning, 
mamma ? 

Mrs. Daryille. 
Milk is better for you, my daughter ; however, 
now and then, you can allow yourself this trifling 
indulgence. 

Charles. 
I, being a man — 

Mary {interrujoting him). 
Twelve years old — can take coffee. 

The Waiter. 
Will you take butter, ma'am ? 

Mrs. Darville. 
Thank you ; dry bread will do. When one break- 
fasts at eleven o'clock, a light meal in the morning is 
more wholesome. — It appears to me, Charles, you 
are making a very hearty one. 

Charles. 
Don't be uneasy ; it will not interfere with the 
one I shall take at eleven ; I am always hungry, it 
is a specialty. — Mary, you say nothing, but eat none 
the less. 

Mary. 
Indeed ! I have only taken a small cup of coffee, 
and one slice of bread-and-butter. 



18 LES PETITS FEANQAIS CHEZ EUX. 

Mme. Daryille (se levant). 
AUons faire notre promenade an jar din, mes en- 
fants. 

Maeie. 
Encore dn sncre, Charles ? Tn vas te gater les 
dents. 

Charles. 
Yraiment, petite soenr ? Tiens, maman, yoila 
ton chapean et ton ombrelle. Yeiix-tu ton filet 
pour attrapper des papillons, Marie ? 

Marie. 
ITon, pas ce matin; je vais cueillir des flenrs 
pour mettre dans les vases dn salon. 



FEENCE CHILDREN AT HOME. 19 

Mes. Daeyille (rising). 
Come, my children, let us take om* walk in the 
garden. 

Maey. 
More sugar, Charles ? You will injure your 
teeth. 

Charles. 
Really, sister ? Mamma, here are your hat and 
parasol. Will you have your net to catch butter- 
flies, Mary ? 

Maey. 
No, not this morning ; I am going to pick flow- 
ers to fill the parlor-vases. 



CHAPITEE III. 
Ze Jardin. 



Mme. Darville. — Charles. — Marie. — Jacques. — Annette. 



Mme. Daryille. 
IST'oiiblions pas, mes enfants, que Yotre cousine 
arrive ce matin. 

Chaeles. 
A quelle heure le train sera-t-il an village ? 

Mme. Darville. 
A onze iienres moins nn quart. J'ai commande 
la voiture pour dix heures et demie. Tu iras au-de- 
vant de ta cousine, Charles. 

Chaeles. 
Certainement ; je serai trop heureux de lui ser^^r 
de chevalier. II y a longtemps que nous ne I'avons 
vue cette chere petite Laure. 

Marie. 
Plus de trois ans. 



CHAPTEE III. 

The Garden, 



Mrs. Daryille. — Charles. — Mary. — Jack. — Annette. 



Mes. Daeyille. 
We must not forget, my children, that your cous- 
in is to arrive this morning. 

Charles. 
At what hour will the train be at the village ? 

Mes. Daeyille. 
At a quarter of eleven. I ordered the carriage 
for half-past ten. Charles, you will go to meet your 
cousin. 

Chaeles. 
Certainly ; I will be most happy to escort her. 
It is a long time since we have seen dear Laura. 

Maey. 
Over three years. 



22 LE8 PETIT8 FRANQAIS CHEZ EUX. 

Mme. Daeyille. 
Ses parents ont fait nn long sejour en Angle- 
terre pour des affaires de famille. 

Charles. 
EUe doit avoir a pen pres mon age. 

Mme. Daeville. 
Oni — elle promettait d'etre jolie — et on la dit 
charmante. 

Ohaeles. 
Si j'ai bonne memoire, nous Tavons trouyee bien 
manieree a I'epoque de sa dernier e yisite. 

Mme. Daryille. 
Un pen, c'est Teffet de Teducation tres-mondaine 
qu'elle regoit a Paris. 

Maeie. 
Cela pent etre cbarmant dans nn salon ; mais a 
la campagne, pour conrrir dans les bois, c'est tres-ge- 
nant. Je me souYiens que Laure accrocbait ses vo- 
lants a tons les bnissons, an grand desespoir de sa 
gonvernante. 

Chaeles. 
Ab ! Yoila Jacques. Je te quitte, maman, pour 
le rejoindre ; il doit me donner des graines pour se- 
mer dans mon jardin. 



FRENGR CHILDREN AT HOME, 23 

Mes. Dakyille. 
Her parents made a long stay in England for 
some family matters. 

Chaeles. 
She must be abont my age. 

MkS. DARVlf.LE. 

Yes — sbe bade fair to be pretty — and I am told 
she is charming. 

Chaeles. 

If I remember well, we found her very afiected 
the last time she was here. 

Mes. Daeyille. 
Eather, it is the result of the Yery worldly educa- 
tion she receiYes in Paris. 

Maey. 
Such manners may be charming in a drawing- 
room; but, in the country, to ramble through the 
woods, they are quite out of place. I remember 
Laura caught her flounces in all the bushes, to the 
utter dismay of her gOYerness. 

Chaeles. 
Ah ! here is Jack. I must leaYe you, mamma, 
to go to him ; he is to giYO me seeds to sow in my 
garden. 



24 LES PETIT8 FRANQAIS CHEZ EUX. 

Makie. 
Demande-lui du reseda et de I'heliotrope pour 
moi. 

Jacques (s^wpproGhant). 
Le reseda est a peine en bontons, mademoiselle ; 
mais je peux vous donner nne profusion de tulipes, 
de hyacintlies et de jonqnilles. 

Marie. 
Merci, Jacques, cela me sufflra. Et quand au- 
rons-nous des roses ? 

Jacques. 
Bientot, mademoiselle ; encore quelques jour- 
nees de beau soleil comme celle-ci, et le jardin sera 
couvert de fleurs. 

Maeie. 
Ab. ! tant mieux. 

Mme. Daryille. 
Et nos legumes, Jacques, sont-ils abondants ? 

Jacques. 
Mais oui, madame ; je peux yous donner des as- 
perges et des epinards. Nous aYons aussi, sous cou- 
clies, de tres-beaux choux-fleurs et de la laitue su- 
perbe. 

Mme. Daryille. 

Fort bien ; donnez tout cela a Rosalie. 



FRENCH CHILDREN AT HOME. 25 

Maky. 

Ask him for some mignonette and heliotrope 
for me. 

Jack {coming forward). 

The mignonette is scarcely in bnd, miss ; but I 
can give you tulips, hyacinths, and jonquils, in abun- 
dance. 

Maey. 

Thank you. Jack, that will do. And when will 
we have roses ? 

Jack. 
Yery soon, miss; a few more sunny days like 
this, and the garden will be filled with flowers. 

Mary. 
Ah ! so much the better. 

Mks. Dahville. 
And the vegetables. Jack, are they plentiful ? 

Jack. 

Well, yes, ma'am; I can give you spinach and 
asparagus. We have also, in the hot-beds, very fine 
cauliflowers and superb lettuce. 

Mes. Daeville. 
Yery well ; take them all to Rosalie. 



26 LES PETITS FRANQAIS CHEZ EUX. 

Jacques. 
Oui, madame. Dans une hnitaine de jours nons 
anrons des petits pois. 

Marie. 
Des petits pois ! Oli ! voila ce qui est bon. 

Charles {sourianf). 
Eh bien ! je croyais mademoiselle au-dessus de 
cette petite faiblesse bumaine, que Ton nomme la 
gourmandise. 

Marie {rougissant). 
Tu appelles les petits pois une gourmandise ? 

Charles. 
Pourquoi pas ? 

Marle. 
Ce ne sont que les sucreries et les friandises que 
Ton nomme ainsi. 

Charles. 
Par exemple ! 

Mme. Daryille. 
Pas de discussions, mes enf ants ; vous auriez de 
la peine a vous entendre ; examinons plutot quel- 
ques-unes de ces belles fleurs qui ornent si bien ce 
parterre. 

Marie. 

Oui, c'est vraiment dommage de les cueillir; si 



FRENGE CEILBEEN AT SOME. 27 

Jack. 
Yes, ma'am. In abont a week we will have 
peas. 

MAiiY. 

Peas ! Oil ! those are good. 

Chaeles {smiling). 
Well, miss ! I thought you too strong-minded to 
indulge in that httle frailty commonly called greedi- 
ness. 

Maey (blushing). 
Do you call peas a dainty ? 

Charles. 
Why not? 

Mary. 
It is a word applied only to sweets and delica- 
cies. 

Charles. 
N'o, indeed ! 

Mrs. Darville. 
Do not discuss, my children, you could not agree ; 
let us rather examine some of these beautiful flowers 
so ornamental to the garden. 

Mary. 
Yes, it is really a pity to pick them. Mamma, 



28 LES PETITS FBANQAIS CHEZ EUX. 

nous nous contentions, pour anjourd'hni, maman, 
d'une belle corbeille de lilas ? Celui-ci embanme. 

Chaeles. 
En venx-tu du blanc ? 

Mme. Daeyille. 
Oui, melangez-le ; rien n'est plus gracieux que 
ces fleurs delicieuses, que nous apprecions tres-peu 
parce qu'elles ne sont pas rares. A present, passons 
a la basse-cour. Bonjour, petite Annette, comment 
se portent yos pensionnaires ? 

Annette {faisant la reverence). 
Tres-bien, madame. 

Maeie. 
Ob ! la jolie poule blancbe et le beau coq ! Char- 
les, Yiens done Yoir ce singulier canard. 

Annette. 
Prenez garde, mademoiselle ; il n'est pas toujours 
de bonne humeur. 

Chaeles. 
Le Yoila qui entre dans cette mare. Oh! le yI- 
lain, il aura les pattes toutes sales. 

Annette (riant). 

II s'en soucie fort peu. Mademoiselle Yeut-elle 
voir les pigeons ? 



FRENCH CEILBREN AT HOME. 29 

supposing we merely fill the basket with lilacs to- 
day ? Here are some that smell delightfully. 

Charles. 
Will you have some white ones ? 

Mrs. Daeyille. 
Yes, mix them. Nothing can be sweeter than 
these exquisite flowers, which are but little appre- 
ciated, because they are so common. Now, let us 
go to the farm-yard. Good-morning, Annette ; how 
are your boarders ? 

Annette {courtesying). 
Very well, ma'am. 

Mart. 
Oh ! what a pretty white hen, and what a hand- 
some cock! Charles, do come and look at that 



strange duck. 

Annette. 

Take care, miss ; it is not always in a good- 
humor. 

Charles. 

There he goes into that pool. Oh! the nasty 
fellow ; his claws will be all dirty. 

Annette (laughing). 
He does not care. Will you look at the pigeons, 
miss ? 



30 LES PETIT8 FEANQAIS CHEZ EUX. 

Marie. 
Yolontiers ; ce sent mes f avoris. Et ma colombe 
blanclie s'est-elle consolee de la perte de son com- 
pagnon ? 

Annette (tristementj. 
Oil ! mademoiselle ; elle est morte avant-hier. 

Maeie {s^essuyant les yeux). 
Morte ! ma jolie colombe ! 

Mme. Daeyille. 

Tu devais t'y attendre ; il est rare qu'elles sup- 
portent la separation. 

Marie. 
Et c'est ce mechant Raymond qui a tue I'autre. 

Charles. 
n aura a faire a moi ce coquin-la. 

Mme. Daryille. 
J' en ai deja parle au garde-cliasse, qui s'arran- 
gera de maniere a eYiter un autre mallieur du meme 
genre; ainsi, mon fils, epargne-toi ce courroux inu- 
tile et peu couYenable a ton age. 

Charles. 
Mon age ! cbere maman, quand done deYiendrai- 
je un liomme a tes yeux ? 



FRENCH CHILDREN AT HOME. 31 

Maey. 

Willingly ; they are my favorites. And my white 
dove, has it recovered from the loss of its mate ? 

Annette {sadly). 
Oh ! miss ; it died day before yesterday. 

Makt {wvpi'fig her eyes). 
Dead ! my pretty dove ! 

Mes. Daeville. 
Yon might have expected it ; they seldom endnre 
being separated from each other. 

Maey. 

And it was that wicked Eaymond who killed 
the other. 

Chaeles. 
I will make that rascal answer for it. 

Mes. Daeville. 

I have already mentioned it to the game-keeper, 

who will see that a similar misfortnne does not oc- 

cnr in f utnre ; therefore, my son, spare yonrself this 

useless wrath, which is scarcely suitable at yom* age. 

Chaeles. 
At my age ! Dear mamma, when will you con- 
sider me a man ? 



32 LES PETITS FRANQAIS CHEZ EUX. 

Mme. Dakyille {souriant). 

Quand tu seras vraiment raisonable. {Regardant 
a sa montre.) II est pres de neuf heiires — vous avez 
des devoirs a preparer ; rentrons, mes enf ants. Mon- 
sieui^ Eoger doit etre an salon, a vons attendre. 

]\Iaeie. 
II fant que je m'arrete nn moment dans le pre 
pour caresser Blancliette. 

Chaeles. 
Quel drole de nom pour une Yache. 

Maeie. 
IST'est-elle pas blanche comme un lis. 

Chaeles. 
Si tu disais comme du lait. 

Mme. Daryille. 
Ya embrasser ta protegee, Marie, et Yiens nous 
rejoindre au chateau. 

Maeie. 

Oui, chere mere. 



FRENCE CHILDREN AT HOME. 33 

Mes. Dahyille {smiling), 
Wlien you are truly reasonable. {LooTting at Tier 
loatch.) It is nearly nine — you have lessons to pre- 
pare ; let us return to the house, my children. Mr. 
Roger is probably waiting for you in the parlor. 

Mary. 

I must stop a moment in the meadow, to caress 
Whity. 

Ohaeles. 
What a strange name for a cow ! 

Maey. 

Is she not as white as a lily ? 

Ohaeles. 
Say rather as white as milk. 

Mrs. Daryille. 

Go and kiss your favorite, Mary, and then you 
will meet us at the chateau. 

Mary. 

Yes, dear mother. 



OHAPITEE IV, 

LE SALOK. 

HArrivee de Laure. 



Mme. Darville. — Marie. — Puis^ Mlle. Dutour. — Charles. — 
George. 

Mme. Daeyille. 

Je crois avoir entendu la cloche. ISTos visiteuses 
seront ici dans tui quart d'heure. As-tu pris ta legon 
avec M. Eoger, ma fiUe ? 

Marie. 
Otii ; mais j'avoue qne j'ai eu des distractions, et 
que mes legons de grammaire et de geographie m'ont 
paru tres-peu amusantes. 

Mme. Daeyille. 
A quoi songeais-tu done ? 

Marie. 
A TarriYee de Laure, d'abord ; puis, a ma pauYre 
colombe. Par parentliese, maman, comme je quit- 



CHAPTEE lY. 

THE DRAW IN G-ROOM. 

Laura^s Arrival. 



Mrs. Darville. — Mary. — Zater, Laura, — Miss Dutour. — Charles. 
— George. 

Mes. Daeyille. 
I think I heard the bell. Our visitors will be 
here in a quarter of an hour. Did you take your 
lesson, with Mr. Eoger, my daughter ? 

Maey. 
Yes ; but I must confess that my mind wandered 
somewhat, and that my grammar and geography les- 
sons afforded me little gratification. 

Mes. Daeyille. 
What were you dreaming about ? 

Maey. 

First, about Laura's arrival ; then, about my poor 
dove. By-the-by, mamma, as I was leaving the f arm. 



36 LE8 PETITS FRANQAIS CHEZ EUX. 

tais la f erme, Annette m'a remis un panier de beaux 
oeufs frais que j'ai laisse a Toffice. 

Mme. Daryille. 
Oui, Jean me les a montres. Je regrette que tu 
n'aies pas profite des excellentes legons de M. Roger, 
cliere enfant, car a ton 4ge le temps est toujours pre- 
cieux. 

Makie {sowpirant). 
C'est vrai ; mais que veux-tu? cela ne depend pas 
toujours de soi. 

Mme. Daryille. 
Fais en sorte d'eYiter ces distractions a TaYenir. 

Maeie. 
Comment pourrai-je m'occuper de mes etudes 
pendant le sejour de ma cousine ici ? 

Mme. Daryille. 

II est probable que Laure aura, de son cote, des 
deYoirs a preparer pour sa gouYernante ; et la mati- 
nee se passera ainsi, de part et d'autre, d'une ma- 
niere utile. 

Maeie (vivement). 

All ! j'apergois la Yoiture au bout de TaYenue, et, 
au-dela, je Yois un caYalier. 

Mme. Daryille. 
Cela doit etre George. 



FRENCH CHILDREN AT HOME. 37 



O i 



Annette gave me a basket of nice fresh eggs, which 
I left in the butler's pantry. 

Mes. Daryille. 
Yes, John showed them to me. I am sorry you 
did not take advantage of Mr. Roger's excellent les- 
sons, dear child; at your age time is always valu- 
able. 

Maey {sighing). 

True; but one is not always responsible, you 
know. 

Mes. Darville. 

Endeavor to avoid these distractions in future. 

Mary. 
How will I be able to attend to my studies dur- 
ing my cousin's stay with us ? 

Mes. Daeville. 
It is probable that Laura, also, will have lessons 
to prepare for her governess ; thus the morning will 
be spent, by all, in a profitable manner. 

Maey. 

Ah ! I see a carriage driving up the avenue ; and, 
beyond, I notice a horseman. 

Mes. Daeville. 
It must be George. 



38 LE8 PETITS FRANQAIS CHEZ EUX. 

Mabie. 
Je me souviens qu'il a promis de venir dejeuner. 

Mme. Daryille. 
Oiii; je Tai invite pour tons les jours de cette 
semaine. Son oncle est parti pour Paris, oil il a 
des affaires a regler ; et George est seul a Fleurival. 

Maeie. 
II nous a dit qu'il ne s'ennuyait jamais. 

Mme. DAiiYiLLE. 
J'en suis convaincue — il a trop de bon sens et de 
ressources en lui-meme pour eprouver de Fennui. 
Quel ami preeieux pour Charles !' 

Maeie. 
lis s'aiment, je crois, sincerement. Ah ! les voi- 
la ! Ces dames descendent de Yoiture. Oh ! la toi- 
lette de Laure — comme elle est belle ! et moi qui 
suis en robe de percale. 

Mme. Daryille {a Laure, qui eni/re^ suivie de Mlle. 
DuTOUR, Charles, puis George). 

Bonjour, ma chere Laure ; comme je suis heu- 
reuse de te Yoir ! 

Laure (Uenibrassani). 
Vous etes mille fois bonne, ma tante ; je suis ra- 



FRENCH CHIXDREN AT ROME. 39 

Maey. 
I remember he promised to breakfast with us. 

Mes. Daeyille. 
Yes, I invited him to come every day during this 
week. His uncle has gone to Paris on business, and 
George is alone at Fleurival. 

Maky. 

He told us he never knew what ennui was. 

Mes. Daeville. 

I readily believe it — he is too sensible, and his 
mental acquii^ements are so numerous that he cannot 
experience ennui, "What a valuable friend he is to 
Charles ! 

Maey. 

I believe they are truly attached to each other. 
Ah ! here they are. The ladies are stepping out of 
the carriage. Oh, how beautifully Laura is dressed ! 
— and I who have a cambric dress on ! 

Mes. Daeville (to Lauea, who enters^ followed T)y 
Miss Dittoue, Chaeles, and afterward Geoege). 

Welcome, my dear Laura ; how happy I am to 
see you ! 

Lauea {kissing her). 
You are too kind, dear aunt ; I am delighted, I 



40 LES PETITS FEAJSTQAIS CEEZ EUX. 

vie, je vous assure, de me retrouver a YosgeroUes. 
La campagne est deliciense ! Et Marie ? 

Marie {s^ approchant). 
Bonjour, ma cousine. {Elle Vemlrasse) 

Mme. Daryille {a Mlle. Dutoue). 

Comment yous portez-YOus, mademoiselle? Ce 
petit trajet en wagon, vous a-t-il fatignee? 

Mlle. Dtjtoue. 
Du tout, madame; j'adore les voyages, et j'ad- 
mire surtout le charmant pays que yous habitez. 

Mme. Dakyille. 
J'espere que Yotre sejour parmi nous yous sera 
agreable ; il faut un pen d' abnegation pour se plaire 
a la campagne. 

Charles. 
Maman, je yous amene un autre conviYe. 

Mme. Daeyille. 
Toujours le bienvenu, mon clier George. Avez- 
vous des nouYelles de Yotre oncle ? 

George. 
Tres-frequemment, madame. 

Marie. 
Vous etes en vacances, George ? 



FRENCH CHILD BEN AT HOME. 41 

assure you, to be once more at VosgeroUes. The 
country is beautiful ! And where is Mary ? 

Maey {coming forward). 
How are you, cousin ? (She kisses her,) 

Mes. Daryille (to Miss Dutoue). 
How are you. Miss Dutour ? Did this short trip 
in the cars fatigue you ? 

Miss Dutoue. 
Not in the least ; I am extrayagantly fond of trav- 
eling, and I particularly admire the beautiful section 
of country you reside in. 

Mes. Daeville. 
I hope your stay with us will prove agreeable ; it 
requires a certain amount of self-denial to be perfect- 
ly satisfied in the country. 

Charles. 
Mamma, I have brought you another guest. 

Mes. Daeville. 
Tou are always welcome, my dear George. Have 
you heard from your uncle ? 

Geoege. 
I hear frequently. 

Maey. 
You have a holiday, George ? 



4:2 LE8 PETITS FRANQAIS CHEZ EUX. 

George. 
Oui, a mon grand regret. 

Charles. 
Regret! Je ne connais rien d'agreable eomme 

les vacances— et toi, Laure ? 

Lauee. 
Oui, qnand maman me permet d'aller au bal, au 
concert, etc. 

Charles. 
Comment ! tn yas an bal ? 

Mlle. Dutoue. 
Les bals d'enfants sont tres a la mode a Paris. 

Latjee. 
Ma demiere toilette a conte denx cents francs ; 
elle etait en gaze rose, lamee d' argent. 

Mme. Darytlle {souriant). 
Je Yois, chere enfant, que ta mere a tonjonrs le 
gout de la toilette. 

Laure. 
II f ant bien f aire comme tout le monde, ma tante. 

Mlle. Dutour {souriant). 
Dites comme le beau monde, ma cherie. 



FRENCH CHILD EEN AT HOME. 43 

Geoege. 
Yes, to my great annoyance. 

Chaeles. 
Annoyance ! I know of nothing pleasanter than 
a holiday. — What think yon, Lanra ? 

Latjka. 

Yes ; when mamma allows me to go to balls, con- 
certs, etc. 

Charles. 
What ! yon go to balls ? 

Miss Dutoue. 
Children's entertainments are very fashionable 
in Paris. 

Latjea. 
My last dress cost two hnndi^ed francs ; it was 
pink ganze, embroidered in silver. 

Mes. Daeville {smiling). 
I see, dear child, yonr mother is still fond of 
dress. 

Latjea. 
One must follow the crowd, annt. 

Miss Dutoue {smiling). 
Say rather the worldly, my darling. 



M LES PETIT8 FRARQAIS CHEZ EUX, 

Mme. Daeyille. 
Marie, accompagne ces dames jusqu'a leur appar- 
tement. I^oiis dejeunerons bientot. 

Maeie. 

Oui, inaman. {A Mlle. Dutour.) Mademoi- 
selle, Yonlez-Yous monter ? 

Mlle. Dutour. 
Merci; comme yous aYez grandi, Marie! Yons 
etes aiissi grande que Lanre, qui a deux ans de plus 
que YOUS. 

Mme. Daryille (sQicriant). 

C'est que Marie se couche de bonne lieure, made- 
moiselle, et ne porte pas de robes en gaze rose. 

Laure {enibrassant Mme. Daryille). 
Ah. I ehere tante, yous jetez des pierres dans mon 
jardin. {Elle sort (weo Mlle. Dutour et Marie.) 



il 



FRENCH CHILDREN AT HOME. 45 

Mrs. Daeyille. 
Mary, show these ladies to their rooms. We will 
soon have breakfast. 

Mary. 

Yes, mamma. {To Miss Dftour.) Will you go 
up-stairs ? 

Miss Dutour. 
Thank you. How much you have grown, Mary ! 
you are as tall as Laura, who is two years older than 
you are. 

Mrs. Daryille {smiling). 

Mary retires early, Miss Dutour; and does not 
wear pink-gauze dresses. 

Laura (hissing Mrs. Daryille). 
Ah ! dear aunt, that is a rebuke. {She leaves the 
drawing-TOorn with Miss Dutour and Mary.) 



CHAPITKE V. 
La Promenade dans le Pare. 



Mme. Dartille. — Mlle. Dutour. — Laure. — Marie. — Charles. — 
George. 

Mme. Daeyille {a Mlle. Dutoilr). 
II y a plnsieurs jours que yous etes ici, mademoi- 
selle, et YOUS n'aYez pas encore Yisite le pare. Vou- 
lez-Yous que nous alliona nous promener ? 

Mlle. Dutoije. 
Tres-Yolontiers, madame. J'ai deja propose a 
Laure de f aire quelques promenades ; mais elle pre- 
fere causer, ou jouer, dans I'apartement de Marie, 
Ces demoiselles font de bonnes parties ensemble. 

Mme. Dakyille. 
C'est beaucoup moins aYantageux que I'exercice 
en plein air. Yoyons, mesdemoiselles, pour aujour- 
d'hui je reclame Yotre societe. 

Laijre. 
Nous sommes a yous a I'instant, ma tante. {A 
Mlle. Dutouk.) Yous apporterai-je Yotre ombrelle, 
mademoiselle ? 



CHAPTEE Y. 
The Walk through the Park. 



Mrs. Darville. — Miss Dutour. — Laura. — Mary. — Charles. — 
George. 

Mes. Daeyille {to Miss Dutoue). 
You have been here several days, and you have 
not yet visited the park. Would you like to take a 
walk? 

Miss Dutotje. 
Yery willingly. I have already proposed several 
times to Laura to walk out ; but she prefers chatting, 
or playing, in Mary's room. The young ladies have 
a fine time together. 

Mes. Daeville. 
That is much less beneficial than taking exercise 
in the open air. — Come, young ladies, to-day I claim 
your society. 

Lauea. 
We will join you in a moment, aunt. {To Miss 
Dutotje.) Shall I bring you your parasol ? 



4:8 LES PETIT8 FEANQAIS CHEZ EUX. 

Mlle. Dutoue. 
S'il voiis plait, Laiire — et surtout, n'oubliez pas 
votre chapeau — ^le plus grand. Madame votre mere 
m'a bien recommande de ne pas vous laisser com^ir 
au soleil. 

Lauee. 

Oh ! je ne venx pas passer pour une Indienne en 
retournant a Paris. 

Mme. Daeyille. 
Marie, oil est ton f rere ? 

Maeie. 
II doit etre dans la chanmiere a faire de la char- 
penterie avec George. Ces messieurs nous ont pro- 
mis, a Laure et moi, des meubles pour nos poupees. 

Lauee. 
Pour la tienne, Marie; tu sais que je ne joue 
plus a la poupee depuis longtemps. 

Maeie. 
All ! est-ce qu'a Paris les petites filles n'aiment 

pas les poupees ? 

Lauee. 

Mais, si ; les toutes petites. 

Mlle. Dutoue {se promenant^ a Mme. Daeyille). 
Quel cliarmant point de Yue ! Et comme yous etes 
heureuse, madame, d'habiter cette belle campagne ! 



FRENCH CHILDEEN AT HOME. 49 

Miss Dutouk. 
If you please, Laura ; and pray do not forget 
your hat — tlie largest one. Your mother particular- 
ly warned me against allowing you to run out in the 
sun 

Lauea. 
Oh ! I have no desire to be taken for an Indian 
when I return to Paris. 

Mes. Daeyille. 
Where is your brother, Mary ? 

Maey. 
He must be in the cottage, working at carpentry 
with George. Those gentlemen promised Laura and 
myself some furniture for our dolls. 

Lauea. 
For yours, Mary ; you know I have not played 
with dolls for a long time. 

Maey. 
Ah ! do not little girls like dolls in Paris ? 

Lauea. 
Yes, children do. 

Miss Dutoue (walking^ to Mes. Daeville). 
What a beautiful prospect ! How fortunate 
you are to reside in this lovely spot ! 
3 



50 LE8 PETITS FRANQAIS CHEZ EUX. 

Mme. Daryille. 
J'ai des gouts tres-simples ; et je trouve ici tout 
ce qui contribue au bonheur, tel que je le comprends. 
Je regrette seulement de ne pas voir ma sceur plus 
souvent. II m'est difficile d'aller a Paris ; et, pour 
elle, ce petit trajet de quelques heures parait pres- 
qu'un voyage. 

Mlle. Dutour. 

C'est vrai; et puis, Madame de Parnes a tant 
d' obligations de societe, qu'il est rare qu'elle puisse 
s'absenter. 

Maeie. 

Charles, Charles! viens done nous trainer dans 
la carriole. * 

ChAjrles {tirant la carriole). 
J'accours, mesdemoiselles. 

Geoeqe. 
Youlez-vous deux chevaux ? 

Lauee. 
Oh ! jamais je ne monterai la-dedans. 

Maeie. 
Mais c'est charmant, je t' assure ; un peu dur seu- 
lement ; cela te donnera des joues roses. 

Lauee. 
Je salirai ma robe. 



FRENCH CEILBEEN AT SOME. 51 

Mrs. Daeyille. 
I am fond of domestic pursuits ; and I find here 
all that constitutes happiness, according to my ideas. 
I only regret not seeing my sister more frequently. 
It is not convenient for me to go to Paris ; and this 
short trip of a few hours, to her, seems like a jour- 
ney. 

Miss Dutour. 
Yery true ; and then Madame de Fames has so 
many social obligations that she is seldom able to 
absent herself. 

Mary. 

Charles, Charles ! do come and draw us in the 
tilted cart. 

Charles {drawing the cart). 
Here I am, young ladies. 

George. 
Will you have two steeds ? 

Laura. 
Oh ! I will never get into that. 

Mary. 
It is charming, really, only a little rough ; it will 
give you rosy cheeks. 

Laura. 
I shall soil my dress. 



52 LES PETITS FEANQAIS CHEZ EUX. 

Marie. 

Bah ! tu en mettras une autre. 

Chaeles. 
AUons, ma cousine, I'eqnipage vous attend. 
George est deja sons le harnais, et je vais m'y met- 
tre. 

Mlle. Dutour {de loin), 
Lanre, Laure ! yous n'allez pas, j'espere, monter 
dans cette Yoitnre en robe de sole ! 

Mme. Daeyille {souriant). 
Laissez-la faire, mademoiselle ; mienx Yant en- 
core chiffonner sa robe que la priYer d'un exerciee 
qui lui fera du bien. 

Charles. 
Eh bien ! est-ce qu'on fait attendre ainsi des che- 
Yaux f ringants ? 

Laure (riant). 
AUons, puisqu'il le f ant absolument ! Mais de 
grace, messieurs, n'oubliez pas que les Parisiennes 
ne sont pas habituees a ce genre d' exerciee. 

George. 

Nous serons doux comme des agneaux. 

(Les deux petites Jilles montent dans la Garriole ; 
Charles et George jpartent an trot d^dbord / puis^ 
deplus en plus vite.) 



FRENCE GEILJDBEN AT HOME. 53 

Mary. 

Nonsense ! you will put on another one. 

Charles. 
Come, cousin, the equipage is ready for you. 
George is already harnessed, and I will soon be. 

Miss Dutour {from a distance). 
Laura, Laura ! I hope you are not going to get 
into that wagon with a silk dress on ! 

Mrs. Daryille {smiling). 
Let her be ; it is better that she should rumple 
her dress than be deprived of an amusement that 
will benefit her. # 

Charles. 
Well ! is it proper to keep such frisky horses 
standing ? 

Laura {laughing). 
Come, then, if it must be done ! But pray, gen- 
tlemen, do not forget that Parisians are not accus- 
tomed to this kind of exercise. 

George. 
We will be as gentle as lambs. 
{The two girls get into the cart / Charles amt 
George start on a trot^ then go faster and faster.) 



54: LES PETITS FEANQAIS CHEZ EUX. 

Lauke {riant aux eclats). 
Charles, Charles ! mais yous allez me briser les 
OS ! A-t-on jamais vu courir ainsi ? Ma tante ! de 
grace, dites-lenr de s'arreter. 

Marie (riant). 
Bravo ! bravo ! 

Charles {s^ arretani). 
Aie ! mesdemoiselles ; je suis tout essouffle ; sa- 
vez-vons que vous n'etes pas legeres ? ITous voila 
en nage, George et moi. J'espere qne vous appre- 
ciez notre devouement. 

Laure {sautant a las de la carriole). 
Yotre devouement ! je m'en passerai a I'avenir. 
Quelle promenade ! il me faudra huit jours pour me 
remettre. 

George. 

C'est ce Charles qui a voulu a toute force vous 
mener au galop. 

Laijre. 

Oh ! j'en suis convaincue. Monsieur George. Je 
blame entierement mon cousin. 

Charles. 
Allons done ! tu prends quatre f ois autant d'exer- 
cice quand tu vas au bal, et tu n'es pas moitie aussi 
jolie qu'a present. Si tu pouvais te regarder a la 
glace, tu nous prierais de recommencer. 



FEENCE CHILDREN AT HOME. 55 

Lauka {laughing heartily). 
Charles, Charles ! yon will break my bones ! Did 
you ever see such speed % — Aunt, for mercy's sake, 
do tell tliem to stop ! 

Mary {laughing^. 
Bravo ! bravo ! 

Charles {stoj>])ing). 
Ay ! young ladies ; I am qnite ont of breath ; 
do yon know yon are a pretty good weight ? George 
and I are all in perspiration. I hope yon appreciate 
our efforts. 

Laura {jumping out of the cart), 
Yonr efforts ! I will dispense with them in f ntnre. 
What a drive ! it will take me a week to recover 
from it. 

George. 

It was Charles who insisted npon going at a fnll 
gallop. 

Laura. 

Oh! I am convinced of it, Mr. George. I lay 
the whole blame npon my cousin. 

Charles. 
Come, come ! you take four times as much exer- 
cise at a ball, and it is not half so becoming to you 
as this is. If you could only see yourself in a mir- 
ror, you would beg us to begin again. 



56 LUS PETITS FRANQAIS CHEZ EUX. 

Lauee {souriant). 
Flatteur ! Et Marie qui a Pair de trouver cette 
conrse toute naturelle. Tu en fais done soiivent 
comme celle-la ? 

Maeie. 

Toutes les f ois que j'en trouve Foccasion. J'aime^ 
de passion, tons les exercices yiolents — a clieYal — a 
ane — en carriole — n'importe comment. 

Mme. Daeytlle {s^ approchant desjeunes gens). 
Eh bien ! Lanre, comment as-tu trouve ta prome- 
nade? 

Lauee. 

Oh ! ma tante ; je suis epnisee. 

Mlle. Dutoue. 
Et dans qnel etat Yons vous etes mises ! Yos 
cheyenx en desordre ! votre robe tonte abimee ! Que 
dirait madame votre mere ? 

Chaeles. 
Qu'on s' amuse beaucoup plus h Yosgerolles qu'a 
Paris, mademoiselle. AUons, George, reconduisons 
notre equipage. Cette f ois nous irons au pas, car si 
Laure est fatiguee pour rire, moi je le suis pour tout 
de bon. Yeux-tu rentrer, Laure ? Yiens-tu, Marie ? 

Maeie. 
Avec Laure, volontiers ; sans elle, non. 



FRENCE CEILBEEN AT EOME. 57 

Lauea {smiling). 
Flatterer ! And Mary seems to think it all right. 
Do yon often take snch drives ? 

Mary. 
Whenever I get a chance. I am extravagant- 
ly fond of all violent exercise — on horseback, on a 
donkey, in a cart — no matter in what manner. 

Mrs. Darville {coming towa/rd the young peoj)le). 
Well ! Laura, how did yon like your drive ? 

Laura. 
O aunt, I am exhausted ! 

Miss Dtjtour. 
What a state you are in ! Tour hair in disorder, 
your dress all spoiled ! What would your mother 
say? 

Charles. 
That one has a much nicer time at VosgeroUes 
than in Paris. — Come, George, let us take back our 
equipage. This time we will walk; for, if Laura 
pretends to be tired, I am really so. — Will you step 
in again, Laura ? — ^Are you coming, Mary ? 

Mary. 

Willingly, if Laura goes ; but not without her. 



58 LES PETITS FEANQAIS CHEZ EUX. 

Lauke {hesitant). 
Si Monsieur George me donnait sa parole d'hon- 
neiir de nous mener au pas, j'irais peut-etre. 

GrEORGE. 

Soyez tranquille, mademoiselle. 

Charles. 
Et mon honneur a moi, on le compte pour rien ? 
{Les ^petites filles remontent dans la carriole,) 

Mlle. Dutoue. 
Laure, vous avez tort. 
( Un mendiant s^ajyproche des enfa/nts) 

Le Meotdiant. 
Mes belles demoiselles, mes beaux messieurs, don- 
nez quelque cliose a un pauvre vieillard. 

Marie. 
Quel dommage ! je n'ai pas ma bourse. Et toi, 
Laure? 

Laure {a demi^oix). 
C'est un imposteur. Maman dit qu'on ne doit 
jamais donner sans prendre des informations. 

Charles. 
En attendant on laisse souffrir les malheureux. 
{Au mendiant) Mon brave homme, nous n'avons 



ji 



FRENCH CHILDREN AT HOME. 59 

Laura {hesitating). 
If Mr. George would give me his word of honor 
to draw us gently, perhaps I might go. 

George. 
Be perfectly easy. Miss Laura. 

Charles. 

And my honor, is it of no account ? 
{The little girls reenter the cart.) 

Miss Dutour. 
Laura, you are wrong. 
{A leggar comes towo^rd the children,) 

The Beggar. 
My pretty ladies, good gentlemen, pray assist a 
poor old man. 

Mary. 
What a pity ! I have not got my purse. Have 
you, Laura ? 

Laura {in a whisper). 
He is an impostor. Mamma says it is wrong to 
give alms without making inquiries. 

Charles. 
Meanwhile you let the poor suJBfer. {To the leg- 
qa/r) My good man, we have nothing here ; but, f ol- 



60 LES PETITS FEANQAIS CHEZ EUX. 

rien ici, mais snivez-nous jusqu'an chateau ; maman 
vous fera donner quelque secours. 

Mme. Da:rVille {g^ui s^etait arretee jpour donner 
des ordres an garde-chasse^ s^ approehant). 
Mais, n'est-ce pas le pauvre aveugle que Mon- 
sieur le Cure nous a recommande il y a quelques 

jours ? 

Le Mendiant. 

Oui, madame. J'ai ete malade, et je yiens de 
passer une semaine ehez de braves gens aussi pau- 
vres que moi, mais qui ont ete remplis de bonte. 
Je sors aujourd'hui pour la premiere fois, 

Mme. Dakyille. 
Je suis bien aise de yous avoir rencontre, diar- 
ies, appelle Pierre et dis-lui de conduire ce vieillard 
jusqu'au chateau. ISTous yous rejoindrons, mon ami, 
dans peu de temps. 

Le Mendiant. 
Merci mille fois, ma belle dame. On m'avait 
bien dit que yous etiez la bonte meme. 

Charles. 
Et on ne yous a pas trompe, mon vieux. 

George {ajpres avoir glisse une piece d^ argent dans 
la main de V aveugle). 
Mesdemoiselles, en attendant le retour de Char- 
les, je Yais YOUS trainer tout doucement. 



FRENCH CEILDEEN AT HOME, 61 

low us to the chateau, and mamma will give you as- 
sistance. 

Mrs. Daeyille {who had stojpjped to give tJie game- 
heeler an order^ coming foricard). 
Is not this the poor blind man whom the curate 
spoke of a few days ago ? 

The Beggar. 
Yes, ma'am. I have been sick, and have just 
spent a week with some good people as destitute as 
I am myself, but who have loaded me with kind- 
ness. I am out to-day for the first time. 

Mrs. Darville. 
I am glad to have met you. — Charles, call Peter 
and tell him to take this old man to the chateau. 
— ^We will meet you there, my friend, very shortly. 

The Beggar. 

A thousand thanks, my kind lady ! Oh ! I had 
been told that you were goodness personified. 

Charles. 
And you were not deceived, old fellow. 

George {after having slipped apiece of money into 
the hlind man'^s hand). 
Young ladies, while we are waiting for Charles, 
I will draw you very slowly. 



62 LES PETITS FEANQAIS CHEZ EUX, 

Marie. 

Oh ! non, George, pas tout senl ; je ne veux pas. 

Mme. Daryille. 
IT01I5 George ; Marie a raison — vous pourriez yous 
faire mal. A quoi pense-tu done, ma petite Laure ? 
Te Yoila toute reYense. 

Laitre. 
Je pense, ma tante, qn'on comprend mieux la 
charite a Yosgerolles qn'a Paris. 

Charles {il revient en courant). 
Me Yoila, me Yoila. Ce paiiYre homme ! etait-il 
contant ? Je Ini ai promis im bon repas. Et George 
qui lui a glisse une belle piece blanche dans la main 
a la som'dine. 

George (bas). 
Chnt! Charles. 

Charles. 
II n'en fait jamais d'autres, ce sonmois. 

George {enibarrasse). 
Yoyons, Charles, ces demoiselles yous attendent. 

Charles. 
Je suis a yous, mes belles. {Riant.) Au galop, 

Lam^e ? 

Laure. 

Oh ! non, de grace. 



FRENCH CHILDREN AT HOME, 63 

Mahy. 

Oh ! no, George, not alone ; I won't allow it. 

Mks. Dakyille. 
No, George; Mary is right — ^you might injure 
yourseK. — ^What are you thinking of, my dear Laura ? 
You seem quite serious. 

Lauea. 
I think, aunt, that charity is better practised at 
YosgeroUes than it is in Paris. 

Charles {running toward them). 
Here I am, here I am. Poor fellow ! how glad 
he was ! I promised him a good meal. And George, 
unnoticed by us, slipped a silver coin into his hand. 

Geoege {in a low voice). 
Hush, Charles ! 

Chaeles. 
He is always at those tricks, that sly fellow ! 

Geoege {enibarrassed). 
Come, Charles, the young ladies are waiting for 

Charles. 
I am ready, my pretty ones. {Laughing.) Shall 
we gallop, Laura ? 

Lauea. 

Oh ! no, pray do not. 



64 LE8 PETITS FBANQAIS CHEZ EUX, 

Marie. 
Yoila la cloclie du chateau ! Quatre heures deja ! 

Laure. 
Nous aurons a peine le temps de faire notre toi- 
lette. 

Charles. 
Tant mieux. Hatons un pen le pas, George. 
{Les jeunes gens se mettent a courir et amvent 
hientdt au chateau^ les petites files riant aux eclats.) 



! 



FRENCH CHILDREN AT HOME, 65 

Mahy. 
The bell ! Four o'clock already ! 

Laura. 
We will scarcely have time to dress. 

Charles. 
So much the better. — Let us hurry a little, George. 
{The hoys start on a run and soon reach the cha- 
teau^ the little girls laughing heartily^ 



CHAPITKE YI. 
Le Diner. 



Mme. Darville. — Mlle. Dutour. — Laure. — Marie. — Charles. — 
George. — Un Domestique. 



Mme. Daryille {a Mlle. Dutoue). 
Mademoiselle, veuillez yous mettre a ma droite. 
Mes enfants, choisissez yos places. 

Laure {a Marie). 
J'ai une faim ! 

Marie. 
Et moi done ! C'est notre promenade qui nous 
a donne de I'appetit. 

Mme. Daryille {a Mlle. Dutour). 
Yous serYirai-je de ce potage au riz, mademoi- 
selle? 

Mlle. Dutour. 
S'il YOUS plait, madam e. 
{Le domestique 2^cisse le lyotage a tout le monde.) 



CHAPTER YI. 
The Dinner. 



Mes. Daryille. — Miss Dutour. — Laura. — Mary. — Charles.- 
George. — A Waiter. 



Mes. Daeyille (f^o Miss Dutoue). 
Pray, sit at my right. — My cliildreB, select your 
own seats. 

Lauea (f;0 Maey). 
I am so himgry ! 

Maey. 
So am I. Our drive has given us an appetite. 

Mes. Daeville (f^o Miss Dutoue). 
Shall I help you to some of this rice-potage ? 

Miss Dutoue. 
Yes, if you please. 
{The waiter hands sou]) to all the guests.) 



68 LES PETIT8 FEANQAIS CHEZ EUX. 

Chaeles. 
Oh 1 la bonne soupe ! 

Latjee. 
Quel vilain mot, Charles ! on dirait que. c'est de 
la soupe aux choux. 

Chaeles. 
Des choux ! mais c'est excellent ; je les aime 
beaucoup, et qui plus est— je les trouve tres-beaux — 
d'une nuance verte delicieuse. Tiens, juste la cou- 
leur de ta robe. 

Maeie. 

Cast vrai. 

Mme. Daeytlle. 
Vous ressentez-Yous de la fatigue que vous avez 
eprouvee ce matin, George ? 

Geoege. 
IfuUement, madame ; il m'arrive souvent, en ai- 
dant le jardinier, de trainer des fardeaux bien plus 
lourds, sans aucune compensation. 

Charles. 
Compensation! Tu veux dire, sans doute, les 
sottises que nous a dites ma charmante cousine. 

Lauee. 
Et que tu meritais joliment, monsieur. 



FRENCH CHILDREN AT HOME. 69 

Chaeles. 
Oh, what a good soup ! 

Latjea. 
What a common expression, Charles ! one would 
suppose it was cabbage-soup. 

Charles. 
Cabbages ! why, they are excellent ; I am very 
fond of them ; and, moreover, I admire them great- 
ly — such a beautiful shade of green ; exactly the 
color of your dress. 

Mary. 

True. 

Mrs. Daeyille. 

Do you feel any bad effects from your exertions 
this morning, George ? 

George. 
None whatever; when I help the gardener, I 
often draw much heavier loads without the least 
compensation. 

Charles. 
Compensation ! I suppose you allude to the 
abuse my sweet cousin favored us with. 

Laura. 
And which you richly deserved, sir. 



70 LES PETITS FRAN-QAIS CHEZ EUX. 

Mlle. Dutohr. 
II me semble, au contraire, que ces messieurs ont 
fait preuve d'un grand devouement, 

Mme. Daeyille {a Mlle. Dutoue). 
Yous offrirai-je de ce fricandeau aux epinards ? 

Mlle. Dutour. 
Merci ; je n'en prendrai pas. 

Chaeles. 
Yous enverrai-je alors, mademoiselle, une tran- 
clie de ce jambon aux choux-fleurs ? 

Mlle. Dutoue. 
S'il vous plait, Monsieur Charles. Je ne partage 
pas r aversion de Laure pour les choux. 

Lauee. 
Je n'ai pas dit que je n'aimais pas les elioux-fleurs. 
Oh ! les belles asperges, ma tante ! 

Geoege (souriant). 
EUes f eraient le desespoir de mon oncle — ^lui qui 
se pique d'avoir les plus belles asperges du voisi- 
nage. 

Maeie. 
ISTe lui en dites rien, George. Laissez-lui sa chere 
illusion. 



FRENCH CHILDREN AT HOME, 71 

Miss Dutoiib. 
I think, on tlie contrary, that these gentlemen 
showed considerable devotion. 

Mrs. Darville {to Miss DuTorE). 
May I offer you some veal stewed with spinach ? 

Miss DUTOUE. 

Thank you, not any. 

Chaeles. 
Then, will you allow me to send you a piece of 
this ham dressed with cauliflowers ? 

Miss Dutoite. 
If you please, Master Charles. I do not share 
Laura's aversion for cabbages. 

Lauea. 

I did not say I disliked cauliflowers. Oh ! aunt, 
what flne asparagus ! 

Geoege {smiling). 
Uncle would be in despair if he saw them — he 
who prides himself on raising the finest asparagus 
in the neighborhood. 

Maey. 

Do not mention it to him, George. Let him in- 
dulge his favorite fancy. 



72 LES PETITS FEANQAIS CHEZ EUX. 

Charles. 
Oui, oui ; ce bon general que j'aime tam — sur- 
tout quand il nous fait faire I'exercice. {Au Do 
MESTiQUE.) Passez-nous les pommes de terre, Jean. 
{A Lauke.) En veux-tu, Laure? EUes sont excel- 
lentes. 

Geoege. 
Ce ne sont pas encore des nouvelles, n'est-ce pas? 

Charles. 
Oh ! le mauvais jardinier ! Des pommes de terre 
nouvelles au mois de Mai ! 

Lauee. 
Elles pourraient venir sous couches. 

Chaeles {riant). 
Quoi ! un champ de pommes de terre sous cou- 
ches? 

Mlle. Dutour {sourianf). 

Ma pauvre Laure, vous trahissez votre ignorance. 

Mme. Daryille. 
Tin de ces jours elle apprendra tout cela. {A 
Mlle. Dutoue). Permettez-moi de vous offrir cette 
aile de poulet ? 

Mlle. Dutour. 

Je veux bien, merci. La volaille est superbe 
ici. 



FRENCH CHILDREN AT HOME. 73 

Charles. 
Yes, yes ; I am so fond of the dear general — 
particularly when he teaches ns how to drill. {To 
the WAriER.) Hand ns the potatoes, John. {To 
Laura.) "Will you take some, Laura ? They are ex- 
cellent. 

George. 
These are not new potatoes, are they ? 

Charles. 
Oh, what a poor gardener ! New potatoes in 

May! 

Laura. 
They might grow in hot-beds. 

Charles (laughing). 
What ! a potato-field in a hot-bed ? 

Miss Dutour {smiling). 
Laura, you betray your ignorance. 

Mrs. Daryille. 
She will learn all that one of these days. {To 
Miss Dutour.) Allow me to send you a wing of this 
chicken ? 

Miss Dutour. 
Willingly, thank you. Poultry is very fine 
here. 

4 



74 LES PETITS FRANQAIS CHEZ EUX. . 

Laure. 

Est-ce nne de ces jolies poules que nous avons 

admirees ces jours derniers dans la basse-cour, ma 

tante ? 

Mme. Daeyille. 

Ouij mon enfant ; au grand desespoir de Marie, 
qui ne Youdrait pas en faire tuer une seule. 

Maeie {soupirant). 
C'est tonjours nn chagrin pour moi, et je ne peux 
pas me decider a les manger. 

CnAitLES. 

Ma soeur a le coeur si tendre ! 

Laure. 
Quel enf antillage, Marie ! 

Marie. 

C'est Yrai ; mais c'est un sentiment dont je ne 
puis me def endre. 

George. 
Et que je comprends parf aitement, Marie ; car je 
TeprouYC a Tegard des pauYres oiseaux que je tue a 
la chasse. 

Mlle. Dutour. 

Yous m'aYOuerez, Monsieur George, que c'est 
la un non-sens. Yous prenez plaisir a tuer ces pau- 
vres petites betes, et I'idee de les manger yous re- 
pugne. 



FRENCE CEILBEEN AT HOME, 75 

Lauea. 
Is this one of those pretty fowls we were admir- 
ing a few days ago in the farm-yard, aunt ? 

Mes. Daeyille. 
Yes, dear — much to Mary's distress. She would 
not have one of them killed. 

Maey {sighing). 
It is always a trial to me, and I cannot make up 
my mind to eat them. 

Chaeles. 
Sister is so tender-hearted ! 

^ Lauea. 

How childish, Mary ! 

Maey. 
Yery true ; but it is a weakness which I cannot 
control. 

Geoege. 
I believe it readily, Mary, for I experience the 
same feeling regarding the poor birds I shoot for 
sport. 

Miss Dutotje. 

You must acknowledge, Mr. George, that you 
are not consistent. You take pleasure in shooting 
these poor little creatures, and the idea of eating them 
is painful to you. 



Y6 LES PETIT8 FRANQAIS CHEZ EUX. 

Chaeles. 
Tes scrupnles te viennent un peu tard, men ami. 
Encore du sel, Lanre ? Mais il me semble que tu en 
prends enormement. 

Lahre {sourianf). 
C'est une habitude anglaise que j'ai prise pendant 
mon sejour a Londres. 

Ohaeles. 
Et qui te fera boire la riviere. A propos de ri- 
viere — maman, nous permettrez-vous de faire faire 
une promenade en bateau a ces demoiselles, apres le 
diner % 

Mme. Daeville. 
Je n'y vois pas d'inconvenient, surtout si George 
vous accompage ; j'ai toute confiance en sa prudence. 

George. 
Yous etes bien bonne, madame. 

Charles. 
C'est singulier, on ne m'apprecie pas a ma juste 
valeur ici. 

Marie {souriant), 

ITul n'est propbete cbez soi, mon pauvre Cbarles. 

Mme. Darvtlle {a Mlle. Dutour). 
Youlez-vous gouter ce fromage a la creme, ma- 
demoiselle ? 



«i 



FRENCE CHILDREN AT EOME. Y7 

Charles. 
Your scruples are rather behiBdhand, my friend. 
— More salt, Laura ? It seems to me you eat a great 
quantity of it. 

Laura {smiling). 
It is an English habit I acquired in London. 

Charles. 
It will make you thirsty enough to drink the 
river. — Talking of the river — mamma, will you al- 
low us to take these young ladies boating, after din- 
ner? 

Mrs. Daryille. 
I see no objection to it, particularly if George 
accompanies you ; I trust entirely to his prudence. 

George. 
You are very kind. 

Charles. 

It is strange, but I am not thoroughly appre- 
ciated here. 

Mary {smiling). 

ISo man is a prophet in his own country, my 
poor Charles. 

Mrs. Daryille {to Miss Dutour). 
Will you taste this cream-cheese ? 



78 LE8 PETITS FBANQAIS CHEZ EUX, 

Mlle. Dutoue. 

S'il voiis plait. Le laitage est si bon a la cam- 
pagna 

Laitre. 
Je crois bien ! Annette nous a servi ce matin, a 
la f erme, du lait que j'ai pris pour de la creme. 

Mme. Dakyille. 
Du f romage, George % 

George. 
Merci, je n'en prendrai pas. 

Marie. 
Yous servirai-je des f raises, George ? 

George. 
Je veux bien. Oe sent les premieres de la saison. 

Charles. 
EUes n'ont aucune saveur. 

Latjre. 

O'est egal ; elles me paraissent meilleures a pre- 
sent que plus tard. 

Charles (a Mlle. Dutour). 
Un petit gateau, mademoiselle ? 



FEENCE CHILDREN AT HOME, 79 

Miss Dutour. 
If you please. Milk and cream are so delicious 
in the country. 

Latjea. 

Yes, indeed ! This morning, at the farm-house, 
Annette gave us some milk that I mistook for cream. 

Mks. Daryille. 
Will you take cheese, George ? 

Geoege. 
Thank you, not any. 

Mary. 
Shall I help you to some strawberries, George ? 

George. 
Willingly. These are the first of the season. 

Charles. 
They are tasteless. 

Laura. 
No matter; to me, they taste better now than 
they do later. 

Charles {to Miss Dutour). 
Will you take a cake ? 



80 LES PETITS FEANQAIS CHEZ EUX, 

Mlle. Dutour {prenant im gateau). 
Merci, monsieur. 

Mme. Daeville ise levant). 
Si cela yous est agreable, nous irons prendre le 
cafe snr la terrasse. 

{Tout le monde se leve de tahle.) 



il 



11 



FRENCH CHILDREN- AT HOME, 81 

Miss Dutouk {taking a cake). 
Thank yon. 

Mrs. Daryille {rising). 
If you have no objections, we will go and take 
cofiee on the terrace. 

{TTie guests all leave the table.) 



CHAPITEE YII. 
La Promenade en BdteoM. 



Mme. Darville. — Mlle. Dutour. — Laure. — Marie. — Charles. — 
George. — Jacques. 



Mme. Daeyille {a Mlle. Dijtotjb). 
IsTous pourrons nous reposer sur ce banc rustique. 
mademoiselle, et sm-yeiller de loin notre petit monde. 

Mlle. Dutoijk. 

Volontiers, ear je ne suis pas sans inquietude k 
regard de ces jennes bateliers. 

Mme. Daeyille. 
Soyez tranquille. George et Charles rament par- 
faitement ; et d'aillenrs, Jacques les accompagnera, 
afin que yous n'ayez aucune crainte. 

Chaeles. 
Comment, maman, tu ycux nous f aire surYeiller 
comme des enfants ? George, on nous insulte. 



CHAPTEE Yir. 

The Boating-Party. 



Mrs. Daryille. — Miss Dutour. — Laura. — Mary. — Charles. — 
George. — Jack. 



Mrs. Daryille ((to Miss Dutour). 
"We can sit on this rustic seat, and overlook our 
young people. 

Miss ' Dutour. 
Willingly, for I am somewhat uneasy as regards 
these young boatmen. 

Mrs. Daryille. 
You need not fear. George and Charles row 
Yery well ; and, besides, Jack will go with them, that 
you may have no anxiety. 

Charles. 
What, mamma! you wish to have us watched 
like children ? — George, we are insulted. 



84: LE8 PETITS FEANQAIS CHEZ EUX, 

George {souriant). 
Je crois, an contraire, que Madame Darville vent 
non^ menager avec sa soUicitude habituelle. 

Mme. Daeyille (souriant). 
C'est iin peu cela, George. 

Charles. 
Yoyons, mesdemoiselles, etes-vous pretes ? 

Latjee. 
Oui, oni. Oh ! la jolie nacelle ! 

Marie. 

C'est nn cadean de George, ponr la fete de ma- 
man. 

{Les jpetUes filles entrent dcms le 'bateau^ suivies 
de Charles et George.) 

Jacques. 
Laissez-moi les denx avirons, Monsienr Charles. 

Charles. 
Comment ! Yons croyez qne je vais rester la a 
ne rien faire, comme nn grand paressenx ? 

Marie. 

Un ramenr si adroit ! Lanre, Charles vent te 
donner nne idee de sa force. 



FRENCH CHILDREN AT HOME, 85 

George {smiling), 
I rather think that Mrs. Darville, with her usual 
solicitude^ is trying to spare us. 

Mks. Darytlle {smiling). 
That's it, George. 

Charles. 
Come, young ladies, are you ready ? 

Laura. 
Yes. Oh, what a pretty boat ! 

Mary. 

It was a present from George to mamma, on her 
feast day. 

{The little girls step into the hoat^ followed ly 
Charles and George.) 

Jack. 
Give me both oars, Mr. Charles. 

Charles. 
. What ! Do you think I am going to sit here 
doing nothing, like a lazy fellow ? 

Mary. 

Such a distinguished oarsman ! — Laura, Charles 
wants to show off in your honor. 



86 LE8 PETITS FEANQAIS CHEZ EUX. 

Laure. 
n me semble que cela doit etre tres-f acile. 

Charles. 
Essaie un pen, ma belle cousine — tu verras. 

George {a Marie). 

Et nos cygnes, Marie, ont-ils souffert du froid 
riuYer dernier ? 

Marie. 

Du tout. Tenez, les Yoila, la-bas, sur le petit 
etang. 

Laure. 

Les jolies betes, comme elles sont gracieuses ! 

Charles. 
Ce ne sont pas des betes ; ce sont des oiseaux. 

Laure. 
C'est la meme cbose. 

Charles. 
Ah, par exemple ! Et les poissons, sont-ce des 
betes aussi ? 

Laure. 
Kous ne iaisons pas ces distinctions-la a Paris, 
mon cber. Ou as-tu pris ces jolies flem^s, Marie ? 

Marie. 
George vient de me les cueillir. Elles croissent 



FRENCH CHILDREN AT HOME. 87 

Lauea. 
It appears to me to be very easy. 

Charles. 
Try it, my pretty cousin — you will see. 

Geoege {to Mary). 
And our swans, Mary, did they suffer from the 
cold last winter ? 

Mary. 

N^ot in the least. Look ! they are over there, on 
the little pond. 

Laijra. 
What pretty animals ! — ^how graceful they are ! 

Charles. 
They are not animals ; they are birds. 

Laura. 
It is all the same. 

Charles. 
WeU, really ! And are fishes animals also ? 

Laura. 

We are not so punctilious in Paris, my dear 
fellow. — Where did you get those pretty flowers, 
Mary? 

Mary. 

George has just picked them for me. They grow 



88 LE8 PETITS FRANQAIS CHEZ EUX. 

en abondance sur les bords de cette petite riviere. 
Je yais t'en tresser line guiriande, Laure. Tiens, 
vois, cela te va a ravir. 

George. 
On dirait nne nympbe. Et vous, Marie ? Je yais 
voiis cneillir d'autres flenrs. 

Maeie. 
Kon, non, George ; ce n'est pas la peine. 

Chaeles. 
Marie se croit assez belle sans cela. 

Maeie. 
Tu sais bien le contraire, vilain taquin. 

Charles (JJ' enibrassant). 
Oni, ma cberie ; tu es nn modele d'humilite et 
de modestie. 

Latjee. 
La verite sort de la boucbe des enfants. 

Jacques. 
Aborderons-nons sur Tile, Monsieur Cbarles ? 

Lauee. 
Ouij Jacques ; je veux voir le pare aux daims. 



FRENCH CHILD BEN AT HOME. 89 

in abimdance on the banks of this little river. I 
will make yon a wreath of them, Laura. See, how 
becoming it is to you ! 

George. 
One might take you for a nymph. — And you, 
Mary ? I will pick you some more flowers. 

Maey. 

1^0, no, George ; it is not worth while. 

Charles. 
Mary thinks she needs no adornment. 

Mary. 
You know it is not so, naughty tease ! 

Charles Qcissing Tier). 
Yes, darling, you are a model of humility and 
modesty. 

Laura. 
Children always speak the truth. 

Jack. 
Shall we land on the island, Mr. Charles ? 

Laura. 
Yes, Jack; I want to see the park where the 
deer are kept. 



90 LES PETIT8 FRANQAm CHEZ EUX. 

Charles. 

II est sept heures, et ils se conclient de tres-bonne 
heure. 

Maeie. 

C'est egalj il fait clair de liine ; et pnisque Laure 
le desire — 

Charles. 
C'est bon. Jacques, abordez, s'il yohs plait. 
{Lesjeunes gens sortent du Mteau) 

Laure {s^ approchant duparo aux daims). 

Les Yoila — comme ils sont jolis ! Comment peut- 
on avoir le conrage de les tuer ? 

Charles. 
Tiens, te yoila comme Marie, avec les canards. 

Laure {souriant), 
Cela se gagne. 

George. 
Si nous avions pense a lenr apporter du pain, 
ils yiendraient manger dans notre main. 

Laure. 

Yraiment ? • 

Marie. 

Tenez, j'en ai nn morceau dans ma pocbe, que je 



FRENCE CEILBEEN AT EOME. 91 

Chaeles. 
It is seven o'clock, and they retire very early. 

Mary. 

No matter, it is moonlight ; and as Laura wishes 
it— 

Charles. 
Yery well. — Jack, land, if you please. 
{The young jpeo2>le stej> out of the hoat) 

Laura {going toward the indosure where the deer 
are Tcej)t). 
Here they are — what beauties ! How can any 
one have the heart to kill them ? 

Charles. 
There, now, you are like Mary with the ducks. 

Laura {smiling). 
It is catching. 

George. 
If we had only thought of bringing them some 
bread, they would let us feed them. 

Laura. 
Indeed ? 

Mary. 
I have a piece in my pocket that I intended 



92 LES FETIT8 FRANQAIS CHEZ EUX. 

comptais jeter aux poissons ; mais la giiirlande de 
Laure me les a fait oublier. 

Latjre. 
Donne, Marie. Yoyons s'ils me traiteront en 
etrangere. 

{Elle offre le pain aux daims^ qui viennent man- 
ger dans sa main) 

Maeie 
Tu Yois. 

Laxjee. 
Sont-ils gentils ! AUons, bonsoir mes mignons ; 
dormez bien. 

Charles. 
Et faites des reves dores. 

Geoege. 
Mes amis, il est temps de rentrer. 

Laure. 
Deja? 
{lis rentrent dans le Mteau) 

Charles. 
Aliens, Jacques, donne-moi nne rame — ^nous ar- 
riverons plus tot. 

Laure. 
La brise du soir est delicieuse, et ce beau clair 
de lune vous fait penser aux anges. 



FRENCH CHILDREN- AT HOME. 93 

throwing to the fishes ; but Laura's wreath made 
me forget them. 

Laura. 
Give it to me, Mary. Let us see whether they 
will treat me as a stranger. 

{She hands the hread to the deei\ who come for- 
ward to eat it) 

Maey. 
You see. 

Laura. 

They are too sweet ! — ^ISTow, good-night, pretty 
ones ; I hope you will sleep well. 

Charles. 
And have golden dreams. 

George. 
It is time to go home, friends. 

Laura. 
So soon ? 
{They return to the loat,) 

Charles. 
Come, Jack, hand me an oar — we will get home 
sooner. 

Laura. 

The evening breeze is delightful, and this beau- 
tiful moonlight makes one dream of the angels. 



94 LE8 PETITS FEANQAIS CHEZ EUX. 

Charles. 
Oh ! ma coiisine devient romanesque ! 

GrEORGE. 

Chantez-nous done cette jolie romance que nous 
avons tant admiree 1' autre soir. Mademoiselle Laure. 

Lauee. 
Je ne cliante jamais sans accompagnement. 

Charles. 
La prochaine fois nous emporterons le piano. 
Marie, chante-nous une de ces ballades de I'ancien 
temps que maman t'a enseignees. 

Marie. 
C'est yieux comme Herode, et Laure qui est de- 
ja moitie endormie. 

Lauee. 

Mais du tout, ma petite Marie. Tu me f eras plai- 
sir. 

Marie. 

L'air que chantait la Heine Bertlie, en tournant 
son rouet ? 

George. 
Oui, oui ; celui-la. 
{Marie chante une vieille lallade) 

Laure. 
Mais, e'est rayissant ! Sais-tu que cette musique- 



FRENCH CHILDREN AT HOME. 95 

Charles, 
Oh ! oiir cousin is becoming romantic ! 

George. 
Do sing us that pretty song we admired so much 
the other evening. Miss Laura. 

Laura. 
I never sing without an accompaniment. 

Charles. 
The next time we will take the piano with us. 
— Mary, sing us one of those ballads of olden times 
that mamma taught you. 

Mary. 

It is as old as the hills, and Laura is half asleep 
already. 

Laura. 
Not at all, Mary dear. You will oblige me. 

Mary. 

The song that Queen Bertha sang while she was 
spinning ? 

George. 

Tes, that one. 

{Mary sings an old lallad.) 

Laura. 
Why, that is beautiful ! Do you know that style 



96 LES PETITS FBANQAIS CHEZ EUX. 

la est tres a la mode ? Tu me I'enseigiieras, n'est-ee 
pas ? Ah. ! nous voila rendiis — quel dommage ! 

Geoege. 
Oui — j'am*ais youIu qne la promenade se prolon- 
geat encore nne hem-e. 

{Les jeunes gens debar quent sur le gazon.) 

Mme. Daeyille. 

Je snis bien aise de yous reYoir, mes enf ants ; 
Mademoiselle Dntour redontait nn accident ; -elle 
n'est pas comme moi habituee 4 ces petites emotions 
de la Yie de campagne. 

Mlle. Dutoue. 
C'est Yrai, madame. 

Latjee. 

Ob ! ma tante, la delicieuse promenade que nous 
Yenons de f aire ! 

Mme. Daeyille. 

Tant mieux, cbere enfant. Toutes ces petites par- 
ties de plaisir en plein air contribuent a te fortifier 
la sante. Si ta chere maman Youlait te laisser pres 
de nous pendant quelques mois, tu deYiendrais — 

Chaeles (vivement). 
line Madame Samson ! Pardon, maman, si je 
YOUS ai interrompue. 



FRENCH CHILDREN AT HOME, 97 

of music is very fashionable ? Yon will teach it to 
me, will yon not ? Ah ! here we are — what a pity ! 

George. 
Yes — I wish we conld have rowed an honr 
longer. 

{The young ;peaple land on the grass.) 

Mes. Darytlle. 
I am glad to see yon, my children; Miss Dn- 
tonr dreaded an accident ; she is not accustomed to 
the slight anxieties of a country-life as I am. 

Miss DUTOUE. 

Yery true. 

Lauea. 
O aunt ! what a delightful row we have had ! 

Mes. Daeyille. 
So much the better, dear child. All these little 
excursions in the open air will strengthen your 
health. If your dear mother would allow you to 
remain with us for a few months, you would be- 
come — 

Chaeles (interrujpting her). 
A Mrs. Samson ! Excuse me, mamma, for in- 
terrupting you. 
5 



98 LE8 PETITS FEANQAIS CHEZ EUX. 

Mme. Daryille isouriant). 
Je te pardonne. 

Mlle. Dutouk. 
II nous serait bien agreable de prolonger notre 
sejour chez vous, madame. Malheurensement, Ma- 
dame de Parnes exige que nous retoumions a Paris 
dans quelques jours. 

Maeie. 

Quel dommage ! 

Mme. Daeyille. 
II f audra que yous reYeniez bientot. AUons, mes 
enfants, rentrons. 



II 



FRENCH CHILDEEN AT HOME. 99 

Mks. Dahville {smiling). 
I forgive you. 

Miss Dutoue. 
It would give us great pleasure to prolong our 
visit ; but, unfortunately, Madame de Parnes insists 
upon our returning to Paris in a few days. 

MAIiY. 

What a pity ! 

Mrs. Darville. 
You must return very soon. — Come, my children, 
let us go home. 



OHAPITEE VIII. 

La Soiree en Famille. 



Mme. Daryille. — Mlle. Dutour. — Laure. — Marie. — Charles.— 
Puis^ George. 

MiviE. Daryille {a Mlle. Dutour). 
Approchez-Yons de la table ronde, mademoiselle. 
Youlez-Yous que je yous enseigne le point de tricot 
dont nous parlions liier ? 

Mlle. Dutour. 
Oil ! bien Yolontiers, madame. 

Charles. 
C'est notre derniere soiree, ma cousine. Allons, 
ne chuchotez pas tant, yous deux la-bas. 

Laure {sourianf). 
Marie me donne des commissions pour Paris — 
des robes pour sa poupee. 

Charles. 
Bah ! je n'en crois rien ; elle ne joue plus d la 
poupee depuis que tu t'es moquee d'elle. 



CHAPTEE VIII. 

The Evening at Home, 



Mrs. Darville. — Miss Dutour. — Laura. — Mary. — Charles. — Latci\ 

George. 

Mes. Daeyille ((to Miss Dutour). 
Come nearer to tlie centre-table. Miss Dutour. 
Shall I teach you the knittmg-stitch we were speak- 
ing of yesterday ? 

Miss DUTOTJE. 

Oh ! certainly. 

Chaeles. 
This is our last evening, cousin. Come, do not 
be whispering so long, you two over there. 

Lauea {smiling). 
Mary is giving me some commissions to execute 
in Paris — dresses for her doll. 

Chaeles. 

Nonsense ! I do not believe it ; she has not played 
with her doll since you made fun of her. 



102 LES PETITS FEANQAIS CHEZ EUX. 

Maeie. 

Mais si, Charles ; je I'ai habillee ce matin de la 
tete aux pieds. 

Ohaeles. 
En cachette, je parie. 

Majrie {rougissa7it). 
Du tout, monsienr. 

Mme. Daeyille. 
Continue tes attentions pour ta poupee, chere en- 
fant ; c'est un bonlieur qu'on doit faire durer aussi 
longtemps que possible. Je me souviens qu'a quinze 
ans je jouais encore a la poupee. 

Laijre. 
A quinze ans, ma tante ? Impossible ! 

Mme. Daeyille. 
Mais oui, je t'assure ; et, comme je me suis ma- 
riee a dix-huit ans, je n'avais pas encore perdu I'ha- 
bitude de tenir les bebes lorsque Charles est ne. 

Charles iVerribrassant). 
Et tu as toujours ete la meilleure des petites ma- 
mans. 

Mlle. Dutoije. 
Bien certainement ; et, si Ton encourageait da- 



FEENCE CEILBREN AT EOME. 103 

Maey. 

Yes, Charles ; I dressed her this morning from 
head to foot. 

Cha:rles. 
I lay a wager, you did it in secret. 

Mary (blushing). 
No, indeed, sir ! 

Mrs. Daeyille. 
Continue to take pleasure in your doll, dear 
child ; it is an enjoyment that should be kept up as 
long as possible. I remember still playing with dolls 
when I was fifteen. 

Laura. 
Fifteen, aunt ? Impossible ! 

Mrs. Daryille. 
Truly, I assure you ; and, as I was married at 
eighteen, I had not lost the habit of handling babies 
when Charles was born. 

Charles {kissing Tier). 
And you haYC always been the best of mothers. 

Miss Dutour. 
Of course ; and if nowadays children were taught 



104 LES PETITS FEAIfgAIS CHEZ EUX, 

vantage chez les enfants d'aujoiird'hui ce gout pour 
les jouissances de fainille, on les rendrait plus heu- 
reux. 

Mme. Daryille. 

C'est d'autant plus vrai que la generation actuelle 
vieillit avant d' avoir connu et apprecie les joies de 
I'enfance, les seules qui soient sans nuages. 

Charles. 
Cela etantj nous allons f aire une partie de cache- 
cache dans le billiard. Et George! qui ne vient 
pas. 

Maeie. 
II pleut a verse. 

Latjre. 
II ne fera pas beau demain, mademoiselle — nous 
ne pourrons pas partir. 

Mlle. Dutoue. 
Dans cette saison-gi, mon enfant, le temps change 
d'une beure a Tautre. 

George {il mine Mme. Darville et Mlle. Dutour). 

Yous voyez, mesdames, que j'ai brave Forage 
pour avoir le plaisir de passer la soiree avec vous. 

Charles. 
A la bonne heure. Si tu n'etais pas venu, nous 
ne t'aurions pas pardonne de longtemps. 



FRENCH CEILBEEN AT HOME, 105 

to appreciate tlie simple joys to be found in their 
homes, they would be much happier. 

Mrs. Daryille. 
This is so truly the case that the present genera- 
tion grows up without having known or valued the 
pleasui'es of childhood, the only ones without alloy. 

Charles. 
That being a fact, we are going to play hide-and- 
seek in the billiard-room. And George ! he has not 
come. 

Mary. 
It is pouring. 

Laura. 
The weather will not be fair to-morrow. Miss 
Dutour. We shall not be able to leave. 

Miss Dutour. 
In this season, dear child, the weather changes 
from hour to hour. 

George (Rowing to Mrs. Darville and Miss Du- 
tour). 
Tou see, ladies, I have ventured through the 
storm to have the pleasure of spending the evening 
with you. 

Charles. 

All right. If you had not come, we would not 
have forgiven you in a hurry. 



106 LE8 PETITS FEANQAIS CHEZ EUX. 

Mme. Daeyille. 
Comment se porte votre onclcj George ? 

George. 
Tres-bien, madame; il est tout-a-fait remis des 
fatigues de son petit voyage, et m'a charge de yous 
presenter ses respects. 

Mlle. Dutoite. 
J'esperais que nous aurions le plaisir de le voir 
avant notre depart. 

Geoeg-e. 
Oil ! il ira certainement demain au depot, vous 
faire ses adieux. 

Lauee. 
Et vous aussi, Monsieur George ? 

Geoege. 
Sans doute, mademoiselle. 

Charles. 
Commengons notre partie de cache-caclie. 

Lauee {vivement). 
Quel coup de tonnerre ! Ces eclairs sont ef- 
frayants. 

Maeie. 

Tu as peur ? 



FRENCH GEILBEEN AT SOME. 107 

Mrs. Darytlle. 
How is your uncle, George ? 

Geoege. 
Yery well; he has quite recovered from the 
effects of his trip, and requested me to present his 
respects to you. 

Miss Dutouk. 
I was in hopes we would have had the pleasure 
of seeing him before we leave. 

Geoege. 
Oh! he will certainly meet you at the depot to- 
morrow, to bid you farewell. 

Laura. 
And you also, Mr. George ? 

George. 
Most certainly. 

Charles. 
Let us begin to play hide-and-seek. 

Laura (hastily). 
What thunder ! This lightning is terrific, 

Mary. 

Are you afraid ? 



108 LES PETITS FEANQAIS CHEZ EUX. 

Laijre. 
Un peu — et, si Charles le veut bien, j'aime mieux 
jouer ici que d'aller dans le billiard. 

Mme. Daeyille. 
Cela vaudra mieux, en effet. Donne-nons des 
cartes, mon fils. Faites line partie de vingt-et-un, 
mes enfants. {A Mlle. Dutotjr.) Youlez-vous pren- 
dre Yotre revanclie a reearte, mademoiselle ? 

Mlle. Dutoue. 
Tres-Yolontiers, madame. 

Maeie. 
Je vais appreter les tables a jeu. 

GrEOEGE. 

Permettez-moi de vous aider, Marie. 

Chaeles. 
Yoila les cartes et les fiches. 
{lis commencent a jouer.) 

Maeie. 

L'orage diminue, Laure. 

Latjee. 

Tant mieux. Je voudrais pouvoir vaincre cette 
crainte ridicule ; mais c'est plus fort que moi. 



FEENCH CHILDREN AT HOME. 109 

Laura. 
Eather ; and, if Charles is willing, I would pre- 
fer playing here to going into the billiard-room. 

Mes. Daryille. 
It would be better in every respect. Hand us 
the cards, my son. Play a game of vingt-et-un^ my 
children. {To IVIiss Dutoije.) Will you try to beat 
me at ecarte^ Miss Dutour ? 

Miss Dutoije. 
With pleasure. 

Mary. 
I will prepare the card-tables. 

George. 
AUow me to help you, Mary. 

Charles. 
Here are the cards and counters. 
(They legin to plcf/y.) 

Mart. 

The storm is abating, Laura. 

Laura. 
So much the better. I wish I could conquer this 
ridiculous fear, but I cannot control it. 



110 LES PETITS FEAirgAIS CHEZ EUX. 

Charles 
Eh bien ! n'y pense pas. Tiens^ je vais te donner 
de belles cartes. 

Lauee {regardant ses cartes). 
En effet, elles sont siiperbes. Je passe. 

Geoegb. 
Je f ais quatre ficbes. 

Chaeles. 
Ob ! monsieur, prenez garde ; la banqne est tres- 

forte. 

Maeie. 
Je passe. 

Chaeles {deoouvrant ses cartes). 
Je te le disais bien, George. Yingt-et-nn, d'em- 
blee. 

Lauee. 

C'est magnifique. — Aie ! encore nn coup de ton- 
nerre ! 

Mlle. Dutoue {a Mme. Daeyille), 
Je propose, cbere madanie. 

Mme. Daeyille. 
Combien ? 

Mlle. Dutotje. 
Trois cartes. 



FRENCH CHILDREN AT HOME. HI 

Charles. 
Well, don't think of it. See, I am going to deal 
you a good hand. 

Lauka {looTcing at her cards). 
Yery fine, in fact. I pass. 

Geoege. 
I put up four counters. 

Charles. 
Oh ! beware, sir ; the bank is very flourishing. 

Mary. 
I pass. 

Chaeles {showing his cards). 
I told you so, George. Vingt-et-un. 

Laura. 
Superb. — Ay ! another clap ! 

Miss DuTouR {to Mrs. Daryille). 
I propose. 

Mrs. Daryille, 

How many ? 

Miss Dutour. 
Three. 



112 LES PETITS FRANQAIS CHEZ EUX. 

MmE. DAitYILLE. 

Je marque le roi. 

Mlle. Dtjtour {souriant). 

n me semble que le sort ne m'est pas plus favo- 
rable ce soir qu'il ne I'etait tier. 

Mme. Daryille. 
Oh ! si, vous allez voir. 

Lattre. 
Charles, Charles, tu triches. 

Charles. 

]^on, je t'assure. {Serieusement) Maman nous 
le defend, meme en plaisantant. 

' George. 
Madame Daryille a bien raison. 

Laure. 
Cependant, quand on ne joue pas pour de 1' ar- 
gent, on pent bien s'amuser un pen. J'avoue que 
cela m'est arrive plus d'une fois. 

Mme. Darville {se penchant vers elle). 
Mais tu ne le f eras plus, n'est-ce pas, ma cherie ? 

Laure (rougissant). 
Non, certain ement, ma tante, puisque vous y at- 
tachez tant d'importance. 



FRENCH CHILDREN AT HOME. 113 

Mes. Darville. 
I mark the king. 

Miss Dutohr {smiling), 
I don't think luck favors me more this evening 
than it did last. 

Mes. Daeville. 
Oh ! yes, you will see. 

Lauea. 
Charles, Charles, you are cheating ! 

Charles. 
No, really. {Sei'iously ,) Mamma forbids our 
cheating, even as a joke. 

Geoege. 
Mrs. DarvUle is perfectly right. 

Lauea. 
Still, when one is not playing for money, a little 
fun is no harm. I must confess that I have done it 
more than once. 

Mes. Daeville (leaning over toward her). 
But you will never do so again, will you, my 
darling ? 

Lauea (blushing). 

Certainly not, aunt, as long as you attach so 
much importance to it. 



114 LES PETITS FRAFQAIS CHEZ EUX. 

Maeie. 
Je fais dix fiches. 

Geoege. 
Et moi quinze. 

Chaeles. 
Attendez, attendez; yous allez faire sauter la 

banqne ! 

Lauee. 

Je double nion enjeu. 

Chaeles. 

Je suis perdu ! Tenez, j'aurai a peine de quoi 
m'acquitter envers mes creanciers ! Je te passe la 
banque, George. 

{Les jeunes gens continuent djouer.) 

Mme. Daeyille. 
Marie, sonne, mon enfant. 

Maeie. 

Oui, maman. 

Mme. Daeyille {au Domestique, qui ent/re). 
SerYez-nous le the, Jean. 

Le Domestique. 
Oui, madame. 

{11 sort et revient tientot ajpres^ portant nn pla- 
teau.) 



i] 



FRENCH CEILBREN AT HOME, 115 

Mary. 
I put up ten counters. 

George. 
And I fifteen. 

Charles. 
Wait, wait ; you will break the bank ! 

Laura. 
I double the stakes. 

Charles. 

I am ruined ! See, I have scarcely enough to 
pay my creditors! I hand the bank over to you, 
George. 

{The young jpeople continue the game) 

Mrs, Darville. 
Eing the bell, Mary, my child. 

Mary. 

Tes, mamma. 

Mrs. Daryille {to The Waiter, who enters). 
Bring in tea, John. 

The Waiier. 
Yes, ma'am. 

{Se retires and soon returns^ carrying a wait- 
er.) 



116 LES PETIT8 FEANQAIS CHEZ EJJX, 

Mme. Daeyille. 
Posez-le sur la table ronde, Jean. 
(Le Domestique jpose le piateau sur la table et 
sort.) 

George. 
J'ai pins de chance qne toi, Charles ; ma fortune 
s'augmente a vne d'ceil. 

Charles. 
Tes sncces seront de courte dnree, mon ami ; ils 
vont se noyer dans cette tasse de tlie que te presente 
ma consine. 

Maeie (pffrant du the a IVIlle. Dutour). 
Prendrez-Yous du the, mademoiselle ? 

Mlle. Dutour. 
Je Yeux bien, mon enfant. {A Mme. Daryille.) 
C'est singulier comme le gout du j:he est deYenu ge- 
neral en France. 

Mme. Daryille. 
Je crois que la mode y a ete pour beaucoup dans 
les commencements ; a present, le the est une ne- 
cessite. 

Charles {jpresentant une assiette a Mlle. Dutour). 
Un gateau, mademoiselle, ou une tartine beur- 
ree ? Et toi, maman ? 



FRENCH CHILDREN AT HOME. 117 

Mrs. Daryille. 
Set it on the centre-table, John. 
(The Waiter sets the tray on the tdble^ and re- 
tires^ 

George. 
I have better luck than yon had, Charles ; my - 
wealth is increasing rapidly. 

Charles. 
Your success will not last long, my dear fellow ; 
it will be drowned in that cup of tea my cousin is 
offering you. 

Mary {handing a cuj^ of tea to Miss Dutour). 
Will you take tea ? 

Miss Dutour. 
With pleasure, dear child. {To Mrs. Daryille.) 
It is strange that tea should be so generally liked 
in France. 

Mrs. Daryille. 
I belieYe that at first fashion had a great deal to 
do with it ; but now tea is' one of the necessaries of 
Kfe. 

Charles {handing Miss Dutour a jplate). 
Will you take a cake, or some bread-and-butter ? 
— And you, mamma ? 



118 LES PETITS FRANQAIS CHEZ EUX. 

Mme. Darville. 
M run ni I'autre, clier enfant. 

Maeie {s^ approchant de lafenetre). 
Yiens done voir, Lanre — ^les nnages ont disparu 
— une nnit superbe! des milliers d'etoiles. Tiens, 
vois la-bas cette belle constellation. Apprends-tu 
I'astronomie ? 

Lauee. 
Oui, mais je ne I'aime guere. 

Marie. Ij 

C'est cependant plein d'interet. George, qui est 
plus avance que nous, m'a fait passer des heures de- 
licieuses en m'expliquant, ayec Faide d'un telescope, 
la marcbe des etoiles. 

Lauee. 
Yraiment ? Je voudrais bien en voir quelques- 
unes. 

Marie. 
Decrocbe le telescope qui est dans la bibliothe- 
que, Charles. Youlez-vous nous accompagner sur le 
balcon, George ? Maman, nous permets-tu une pe- 
tite legon d'astronomie ? 

Mme. Darville. 
Oui, mon enfant ; mais mettez vos cliapeaux; 



FUENCE CHILDREN AT HOME, 119 

Mrs. Dakville. 

l^either, dear child . 

Maey {going toward the window). 
Look, Laura — the clonds have disappeared — the 
sky is beautiful — thousands of stars to be seen. See, 
over there, that splendid constellation! Do you 
learn astronomy ? 

Lauea. 
Yes, but I don't like it much. 

Maey. 
Why, it is very interesting. George, who is 
more advanced than we are, has made me spend de- 
lightful moments explaining to me, with the aid of 
a telescope, the course followed by the stars. 

Lauea. 
Really ? I would like to see a few. 

Maey. 
Charles, take down the telescope that is in the 
library. — George, will you go out with us on the 
piazza ? — Mamma, will you allow us to take a short 
astronomy-lesson ? 

Mrs. Darville. 
Yes, dear ; but put your hats on. 



120 LES PETITS FEAFQAIS CHEZ EUX. 

Mlle. Dutour. 
ITe restez pas longtemps, inesdemoiselles. II est 
dix heures, et nous avons encore quelqnes preparatifs 
a faire. 

Laijre. 

Un petit quart-d'lieure senlement. 
{Lesjeunes gens passent sur le halcon.) 

Mme. Dakyille. 

L'instruction pratique a bien pins d'attrait ponr 
la jennesse qne celle qn'elle regoit par I'entremise 
des livres. 

Mlle. Dutour. 

Sans donte ; aussi, il serait a desirer qne les conrs 
fnssent snivis par tons les enfants. A Paris, I'edn- 
eation pratique a tellement fait de progres, qn'avec 
le plus petit desir de s'instruire on doit necessaire- 
ment acquerir des connaissances tres-etendues. 

Mme. Daryille. 

C'est Yrai ; aussi, etant priYee de ces aYantages a 
la campagne, je cherelie toutes les occasions d'obte- 
nir pour mes enfants le meme resultat, en les fami- 
liarisant aYec les beautes de la nature. 

{Les jeunes gens rentrent dans le salon.) 

Marie. 
II fait tres-f rais ce soir ; nous n'aYons pris qu'une 
courte legon. 



FRENCH CEILDEEN AT ROME. 121 

]\IlSS DUTOUR. 

Do not stay long, young ladies. It is ten o'clock, 
and we still have some packing to do. 

Laura. 
Only a quarter of an hour. 
{The young peo^ple step out on the piazza.) 

Mrs. Daryille. 

Practical knowledge is mucli more attractive to 
young people than that they acquire through books. 

Miss Dutour. 
Undoubtedly ; and it would be desirable that all 
children should attend lectures. In Paris, practical 
education has become so thorough, that, with the 
faintest desire to improve one's seK, one must neces- 
sarily acquire a considerable amount of information. 

Mrs. Darville. 

Yery tru€ ; and, as we are deprived of those ad- 
vantages in the country, I seek every opportunity of 
obtaining the same result for my children by famil- 
iarizing them with the beauties of Nature. 

{The young people return to the drawing-room.) 

Mary. 
It is quite cool this evening; we only took a 
short lesson. 
6 



122 LES PETITS FEANQAIS GHEZ EUX. 

Lauee. 
Oh ! les belles etoiles que je viens de voir ! {A 
Mlle. Dutouk). a notre retonr a Paris, mademoi- 
selle, voulez-Yous avoir la bonte de me conduire au 
corn's de M. Eicbard ? 

Mlle. Dutotje. 
Avec grand plaisir, cbere enfant. 

Geoege {saluant Mme. Dakyille et Mlle. Du- 

tour). 
Bonsoir, mesdames. A demain. Mademoiselle 
Laure ; je suis desole de votre depart. 

Lauee. 
Et moi aussi, je yous assure. 

Mme. Daeyille. 
Bonsoir, George. Yeuillez dire au general que 
je I'attends a diner apres-demain — et yous aussi, mon 
ami. 

Geoege. 
Nous n'y manquerons pas, madame. Je yous 
salue. 

{II sort) 

Chaeles. 
Oe pauYre gargon etait tout attendri en te f aisant 
ses adieux, Laure ; c'est touebant ! 



FRENCH CHILDREN AT HOME, 123 

Laura. 

Oh ! wliat magnificent stars I liave jnst seen ! 
{To Miss DuTouE.) When we return to Paris, Miss 
Dutonr, will yon be kind enough to accompany me 
to Mr. Eichard's lectures ? 

Miss Dutohr. 
With much pleasure, dear child. 

Geoege (boioing to Mes. Daryille and Miss Du- 

toue). 
Good-evening, ladies. — I will see you to-morrow, 
Miss Laura ; I am distressed to part with you. 

Latjea. 
I am also, I assure you. 

Mes. Daeyille. 
Good-night, George. Pray tell the general I 
expect him to dinner day after to-morrow — and you 
also, my young friend. 

Geoege. 
We will be punctual. Good-evening. 

{He retires) 

Charles. 
The poor fellow was much affected at parting 
with you, Laura — it was quite touching ! 



124 LES PETIT8 FEANQAIS CHEZ EUX. 

Maeie. 
Le vilain moqueur ! 

Mlle. Dutohr {se levant). 
Monsieur George est "im charmant jeune homme, 
tres-instniitj et d'une modestie rare aujourd'hui. 

Mme. Daeyelle. 
Je ne lui connais pas nn def ant. 

Chakles {souriant). 
Moi, je Ini en connais nn ; et, malgre Tamitie 
immense que je lui porte, j'avone qne ee defant-la 
m'est sonvent tres-desagreable. 

Maeie. 

Et qnel est-il ? 

Charles. 
n a trop de qnalites. 

Laijre (riant). 
All ! Yoila nn def ant tont nonvean ; je ne le con- 
naissais pas. 

Charles. 
Mais, certainement, c'est tres-nnisible a ses amis, 
qui sont si loin de la perfection. 

Mlle. Dutoue {souriant). 
Monsieur Charles a peut-etre raison. Cependant, 
nul ne songerait a faire ce reproclie-la a Monsieur 



FRENGE CHILDREN AT HOME. 125 

Maey. 
Yovl naughty teaser ! 

Miss Dutour {rising), 
Mr. George is a very fine yonng man, well read, 
and so unassuming — a rare quality nowadays. 

Mes. Daeville. 
He is really faultless. 

Charles {smiling). 
I can mention one; and, notwithstanding the 
great friendship I bear him, I must confess that 
this defect is frequently very annoying to me. 

Mary. 
What is it; pray ? 

Charles. 
He has too many good qualities. 

Laura (laughing). 
Well ! this is a new defect — unknown to me. 

Charles. 
Why, certainly, it is a great disadvantage to his 
friends, who are so far from perfection. 

Miss Dutour {smiling). 
Mr. Charles may be right. However, one could 
scarcely find fault with Mr. Dalbret in that respect, 



126 LES PETITS FEARQAIS CHEZ EUX. 

Dalbret, tant il cherclie a s'effacer pour faire valoir 
les autres. Allons, Laure, il faut absolument nous 
retirer. Bonsoir, madame ; bonne nuit, Marie ; Mon- 
sieur Charles, je yous salue. 

Mme. Daeyille. 
Bonne nuit, mademoiselle. 
{Tout le monde se reti7'e) 



FRENCH CEILDEEN AT HOME. 127 

so eager is he at all times to forget himself, to show 
off the good traits of others. — Come, Laura, we real- 
ly must retire. — Good-evening, my dear madame; 
good-night, Mary ; Mr. Charles, good-evening. 

Mks. Darville. 
Good-night. 
{All retire,) 



CHAPITEE IX. 

Le DSjpart de Laure. 



Mme. Daryille. — Mlle. Dutour. — Marie. — Laure.— Charles. 

Laure {entrant dans le salon en chapeau), 
Marie, as-tu pris mon cabas ? 

Maeie. 
Oui, le Yoila ; et Jacques vient de t'apporter im 
bouquet. Tu le donneras, de ma part, a ma Tante 
de Parnes. 

Mme, Daryille. 

N^'oublie pas, cbere enfant, de dire a ton bon 
pere qu'il m'a promis de venir cbasser an mois d'Oc- 
tobre. 

Marie. 

Tacbe de Taccompagner, ma petite Lam-e. 

Laijre. 
Sois tranqnille, je reviendrai aussitot que possi- 
ble. Ma visite a ete tellement agreable que voiis 
me reverrez avant longtemps. {A Mme. Dakyille.) 



CHAPTEE IX. 

Laura's Dejparture. 



Mrs. Daryille. — Miss Dutour. — Mary. — Laura. — Charles. 

Laura (entering the drawing^oom with her honnet on). 
Mary, did you take my trayeling-bag ? 

Mary. 

Yes, here it is ; and Jack hast just brought in a 
bouquet for you. Pray, tell Aunt de Parnes I sent 
it to her. 

Mrs. Daryille. 
Do not forget, dear child, to say to your father 
that he promised to visit us, in October, for the shoot- 
ing season. 

Mary. 
Try to accompany him, dear Laura. 

Laura. 
Oh ! you may depend upon my returning as 
soon as possible. My visit has been so agreeable that 
you will see me again before long. {To Mrs. Dar- 



130 LES PETITS FRARQAIS CHEZ EUX. 

Comment yous remercier, ma tante, pour toutes vos 
bontes ? 

Mme. Daeyille {V eTribrassant). 
Chere enfant ! j'etais bien heurense de t'avoir 
pres de moi. 

Charles. 
ITe redeviens pas trop Parisienne, ma petite cou- 
sine. Tu es gentille a croqner a present ; mais je 
parie qu'avant un mois tn auras repris tous tes petits 
airs. 

Lauee {riant). 

Qu'appelles-tu mes petits airs ? 

Chaeles. 
Ob ! tu sais — 

Mlle. Dutoue {entrant dans le salon). 
Pardon, Monsieur Cbarles, si je vous ai fait at- 
tendre. Je vois que la yoiture est a la porte. {A 
Mme. Daeyelle.) Permettez-moi, madame, de vous 
exprimer toute ma reconnaissance, pour Taccueil cbar- 
mant que yous ayez bien youIu nous faire. 

Mme. Daeyille. 
Yotre Yisite, mademoiselle, nous laissera de bons 
souYenirs, et j'espere qu'ayant longtemps nous au- 
rons le plaisir de yous reYoir. 

Mlle. Dutoue. 
Si Madame de Parnes le permet, je serai trop 
heureuse de reyenir a YosgeroUes. 



FRENCH CHILDREN AT HOME. 131 

viLLE.) How can I ever thank yon, annt, for all 
your kindness ? 

Mks. Dakyille {kissing her). 
Dear child, I was delighted to have yon. 

Chakles. 
Do not resume your Parisian style too soon, my 
little cousin. You are very sweet now, but I dare 
say, before a month is over, you will be full of airs 
again. 

Laura (laughing). 

What do you call airs ? 

Chaeles. 
Oh ! you know — 

Miss Dtjtohb {entering the drawing-room). 
Excuse me, Mr. Charles, for detaining you. I 
see the carriage is waiting. {To Mks. Dakyille.) 
Allow me, dear madame, to express my gratitude 
for the very kind welcome you have given us. 

Mrs. Darville. 
Your visit will be remembered by all here with 
much gratification, and I hope we shall have the 
pleasure of seeing you again before long. 

Miss Dutour. 
If Madame de Parnes has no objection, I shall 
be delighted to return to YosgeroUes. 



132 LE8 PETITS FRANQAIS CHEZ EUX. 

Lauee. 
Le sifflet, mademoiselle ! Partons ! {Elle emr- 
hrasse Mme. Dakyille et Marie.) Adieu, cliere 
tante ; adien, Marie ; a bientot, j'espere. 

Marie (J.es larmes aux yeux). 

Adieu, Lanre. Ne nous oublie pas. Je t'enver- 
rai les colombes blancbes. 

(Mlle. Dutour et Laure montent en voiture^ 
suivies de Chaeles.) 

Charles {aib cocker). 
An Depot Germain. 

Mme. Daeyille {a Marie). 
» Tn plenres, ma fille ? 

Marie. 

Oni, Lanre va me f aire fante ; je m'etais habi- 
tuee a Tavoir pres de moi. 

Mme. Daryille. 
Yenx-tn qne nons allions habiter Paris, ma cbe- 
rie ? La societe ne te manqnera pas la. 

Marie {sejettant dans les hras de sa mere). 
Oh ! non, cliere maman ; nons sommes si heu- 
renses ici. 

Mme. Daryille. 

Oni, mon enfant, et nons deYons des actions de 



FRENCH CHILDREN AT HOME, 133 

Laura. 

The whistle. Miss Dutour ! We must go. {She 
hisses Mes. Daeville and Mary.) Farewell, dear 
aunt — farewell, Mary ; we shall meet soon again, I 
hope. 

Mary {her eyes filled with tears), 

6ood-by, Laura. Do not forget us. I will send 
you the white doves. 

(Miss Dutour and Laura enter the carriage^ fol- 
lowed hj Charles.) 

Charles {to the coachman). 
Drive to the Germain Station. 

Mrs. Darvelle {to Mary). 
You are weeping, my daughter ! 

Mary. 

Yes, I shall miss Laura ; I had become accus- 
tomed to her society. 

Mrs. Darville. 
Shall we go and live in Paris, my darling ? You 
will have a large circle there. 

Mary {throwing herself in her mother'' s arms). 
Oh ! no, dear mother ; we are so happy here. 

Mrs. Darville. 
l^es, my child, and we owe thanks to Divine 



134: LES PETITS FRANQAIS CHEZ EUX. 

grace a la Divine Providence pour les bienfaits sans 
nombre dont elle nous comble. Pour en etre plus 
intimement convaincues, allons visiter quelques-unes 
des families pauvres du village. Tu reviendras toute 
consolee. 

{Elle jprend son chajpeau et sort aveo Masie.) 



LA FIX. 



FRENCH CHILDREN AT HOME. 135 

Providence for the numberless blessings bestowed 
upon ns. That we may be more thoroughly con- 
\dnced of it, let ns go and visit some of the poor 
families in the village. Yon will come home qnite 
reconciled. 

{She takes her honnet and walks out with Maey.) 



THE END. 



i\r. B. — Those of our young friends who take an interest in 
the characters of this little story ^ icill find their subsequent his- 
tory in ** Comment on Parle d Paris; or^ French as SpoTcen in 
Parish 




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The First Mmk ©f Eotamj: 



DESIGxVED TO 



Cultivate the Observing Powers of CMdrea 

Bi/ ELIZA A. YOUMAXS. 
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